Tag Archives: London

Why Mrs T should have left the room quietly, closing the door behind her….

Posted on April 11, 2013 by

Ok, I give in. I have to write something on the subject. The media are not going to shut up, as I had hoped. Days after Margaret Thatcher died we are still getting quotes, anecdotes  tributes, vitriol and all manner of unnecessary and … Continue reading →

Posted in Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

British? Moi?

Posted on March 25, 2013 by

This is a tough one. I have been nominated by the lovely writer Vivienne Tuffnell over at zen and the art of tightropewalking (whose novel Away With the Fairies I am currently reading and enjoying very much) for A Very British Blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Dandelions and Bad Hair Days, London, Poetry, Reading, Work, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

On Victorian London, forensics and writing inspiration: a conversation with D.E. Meredith, author of The Devil’s Ribbon

Posted on February 25, 2013 by

Today I am lucky enough to have a guest on my blog – the author D. E. Meredith writer of the historical crime series, The Hatton and Roumande Mysteries featuring the first forensic scientist, Professor Adolphus Hatton, and his trusty … Continue reading →

Posted in Author interviews, Book, London, Reading, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘London Snow’ and the joy of a trip to the capital whatever the weather

Posted on January 22, 2013 by

Last week I went to London and spent three happy hours in The Wellcome Library, taking advantage of their beautiful reading rooms. I was researching shell shock and PTSD to inform Shell Shocked Britain, the book I am writing for … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, London, Mental health, Poetry, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ho Ho Ho – a Happy, healthy Christmas from No Wriggling!

Posted on December 24, 2012 by

Just a quick post to wish all those who follow my blog and any who just drop by the very merriest of Christmases and the happiest and healthiest of New Years. This has been a good year on No wriggling. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Dandelions and Bad Hair Days, London, Poetry, Random musings on family life, love the universe and everything, Religion, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On receiving some wonderful old news……

Posted on December 18, 2012 by

As some of my regular readers may be aware, I was commissioned earlier this year, by the new social history imprint of Pen and Sword Books, to write a book about the impact of the first world war on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Book, Family History, History, London, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sarah’s story – family history and poetry from the darkest places…

Posted on August 25, 2012 by

In a previous post, I wrote of Sarah Hardiman, the first (and only legal) wife of my Great Grandfather George Hardiman. George Hardiman was a journeyman silversmith, born in 1839 in an impoverished part of Clerkenwell, North London. Sarah (nee … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, London, Mental health, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Telling ‘Sarah’s Story’ – finding truth in family history

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

It is some time since I have written on the history of my family, or on history in any sense really. I am deep into the process of finalising a manuscript that will be published in the next few months – … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, London, Mental health | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

An Islington murder

Posted on October 21, 2011 by

Or should I say, TWO Islington murders…. Readers of my blog might know that I have been undertaking research on the area around Clerkenwell and Islington generally as I work to understand the life my London ancestors led. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Calling Clerkenwell home – roots in roguish & revolutionary soil

Posted on October 12, 2011 by

The line between ‘family’ and ‘social’ history is becoming ever more blurred. For me, studying my tree has always been more about the history surrounding the lives of my ancestors than finding each and every distant relation. I know I … Continue reading →

Posted in Family History, History, London | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments