Thursday, September 24, 2009
Hedgerow bounty…
Autumn is the time to harvest and we have been out in the nearby fields collecting Blackberries and Elderberries. We have had plenty to pick and so our freezer is full of berries and we have enjoyed puddings and I even made another batch of Elderberry Jam (too much sugar again, so it is very thick and sweet).
Summer-House warming…
One of our neighbours has had a new summer house put up in their back yard and we were invited over to celebrate with a drink and some nibbles. The construction is wonderful with a sizable decking around a well appointed building that is so good we all wanted to move into it. We had a great time talking to their friends and family and we well impressed with the rocket scientist.
Just slap it on all over…
Our house has desperately need some tender loving care taken on the exterior and recently we had the pointing repaired in preparation for repainting the woodwork and stonework around the windows and doors. Sue had the impression we could have it all done and dusted in a couple of hours. This was not quite the case, even though we have done the majority of it, with the not insignificant help of family, and the rest should be completed this weekend.
Operation Pied Piper…
We went along to a very enjoyable and informative talk at the local Westcott History Group on the subject of Operation Pied Piper as part of the remembrance of the start of WWII.
Operation Pied Piper was the code name for the evacuation of major cities on the day that war was declared, where many children were taken from possible danger zones to areas of relative safety in the countryside. The village of Westcott was host to two schools from London and this talk concentrated on them and what happened.
The Reading Room was packed with people; many of who were of a generation that could remember the events first hand (some even stood up and added to the talk with personal details). Several local children came in and acted out the roles of evacuees by reading out letters written by them to their parents. A woman also read out passages from the memories of the local lady responsible for the allocation of the children to suitable accommodation. I particularly like that she referred to her self as the Dumper and the children as the poor Dumplings. I think this episode and memories would make for an interesting children’s story, luckily I obtained a copy of the talk for reference. So you never know – another incomplete project.
Operation Pied Piper was the code name for the evacuation of major cities on the day that war was declared, where many children were taken from possible danger zones to areas of relative safety in the countryside. The village of Westcott was host to two schools from London and this talk concentrated on them and what happened.
The Reading Room was packed with people; many of who were of a generation that could remember the events first hand (some even stood up and added to the talk with personal details). Several local children came in and acted out the roles of evacuees by reading out letters written by them to their parents. A woman also read out passages from the memories of the local lady responsible for the allocation of the children to suitable accommodation. I particularly like that she referred to her self as the Dumper and the children as the poor Dumplings. I think this episode and memories would make for an interesting children’s story, luckily I obtained a copy of the talk for reference. So you never know – another incomplete project.
More wot I have read…
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
This is a new book from the author of the Twilght series, this time with aliens as the subject rather than the supernatural. It certainly has the potential to change young female reader’s attitudes in the same way and introducing them to Sci-Fi. It was well written and thought out with a lot of attention spent on characterisation and personal interactions and not so much on the whole alien thing.
'Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.'
This is a new book from the author of the Twilght series, this time with aliens as the subject rather than the supernatural. It certainly has the potential to change young female reader’s attitudes in the same way and introducing them to Sci-Fi. It was well written and thought out with a lot of attention spent on characterisation and personal interactions and not so much on the whole alien thing.
'Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.'
Thursday, September 03, 2009
All the best folk…
We went to the Towersey Folk Festival on the last bank holiday on August and had a brilliant time.
Three of us went along and camped the weekend at the site in Oxfordshire. Although it was grey and windy for most days, apart from Monday afternoon’s sunshine, we were lucky that it didn’t rain, as I am sure that could have dampened our spirits.
We were on the go all day seeing many concerts and acts, interspersed with some liberal consumption of alcohol and the regular burger before bed. Even though we kept busy we still missed seeing anything at the off site venues or the ceilidh tent (pronounced kay-lee, or if you are Sue, see-li-dah).
There wasn’t an act that we didn’t like though there were a few favourites and I now have a longer wish list on Amazon. The highlights for us were:
The Imagined Village – an exciting cosmopolitan folk collective demonstrating how tradition can be made contemporary and grow from it
The Spooky Men’s Chorale – ‘a vast, rumbling, black-clad behemoth’ group of Australian (led by a Kiwi) ‘blokes’ who sing in great harmony and like a bit of silliness. We also went to the Spooky Men’s – Sing Like a Bloke workshop, where a large group of people learnt the ‘Let Me Through’ song and then invaded the Market Square, singing at the top of our collective voices, much to the puzzlement of the other visitors.
Megan and Joe Henwood – a great young brother and sister act – winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2009 and an act to watch for
John Smith – another great new act, unbelievably unsigned
Chris Smither – an old school American Blues singer who sounds like he has been gargling gravel and looks a bit like a cross between Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash
Karine Polwart – a successful new Scots singer with an angelic voice
Devon Sproule – a quirky North American songstress with an unique sound that wasn’t universally liked by the old school folk audience. We had seen here last year at Womad and love her stuff
We also saw…
Roy Bailey – an old school folky, from before it was big the first time around. Popular with young and old alike
Mawkin – a fun modern folk group who are making waves on the new scene
The Lark Rise Band – this band were around before the TV series promoting the works of Flora Thompson with readings and song
4Square – a group of young, precocious and extremely talented youngsters who will undoubtedly go onto big things
Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson with Ali Hutton – a talent couple of pipers with their friend
Pete Coe – another old school folky who has been around for a while and has a big following
Demon Barbers – the noisiest group we saw who like to keep things lively
Cupola – a talented group of traditional folk musicians
Various Dance sides and musical acts in the Market Square, Beer Tent and the Rope Circle.
Three of us went along and camped the weekend at the site in Oxfordshire. Although it was grey and windy for most days, apart from Monday afternoon’s sunshine, we were lucky that it didn’t rain, as I am sure that could have dampened our spirits.
We were on the go all day seeing many concerts and acts, interspersed with some liberal consumption of alcohol and the regular burger before bed. Even though we kept busy we still missed seeing anything at the off site venues or the ceilidh tent (pronounced kay-lee, or if you are Sue, see-li-dah).
There wasn’t an act that we didn’t like though there were a few favourites and I now have a longer wish list on Amazon. The highlights for us were:
The Imagined Village – an exciting cosmopolitan folk collective demonstrating how tradition can be made contemporary and grow from it
The Spooky Men’s Chorale – ‘a vast, rumbling, black-clad behemoth’ group of Australian (led by a Kiwi) ‘blokes’ who sing in great harmony and like a bit of silliness. We also went to the Spooky Men’s – Sing Like a Bloke workshop, where a large group of people learnt the ‘Let Me Through’ song and then invaded the Market Square, singing at the top of our collective voices, much to the puzzlement of the other visitors.
Megan and Joe Henwood – a great young brother and sister act – winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2009 and an act to watch for
John Smith – another great new act, unbelievably unsigned
Chris Smither – an old school American Blues singer who sounds like he has been gargling gravel and looks a bit like a cross between Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash
Karine Polwart – a successful new Scots singer with an angelic voice
Devon Sproule – a quirky North American songstress with an unique sound that wasn’t universally liked by the old school folk audience. We had seen here last year at Womad and love her stuff
We also saw…
Roy Bailey – an old school folky, from before it was big the first time around. Popular with young and old alike
Mawkin – a fun modern folk group who are making waves on the new scene
The Lark Rise Band – this band were around before the TV series promoting the works of Flora Thompson with readings and song
4Square – a group of young, precocious and extremely talented youngsters who will undoubtedly go onto big things
Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson with Ali Hutton – a talent couple of pipers with their friend
Pete Coe – another old school folky who has been around for a while and has a big following
Demon Barbers – the noisiest group we saw who like to keep things lively
Cupola – a talented group of traditional folk musicians
Various Dance sides and musical acts in the Market Square, Beer Tent and the Rope Circle.
Shakespeare is always better outdoors…
Recently we went up to see my Uncle and go to the local production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Pendley Manor. The costumes and setting gave it a 1920’s feel and Puck was a fantastic with mannerisms that reminded me of Charlie Chaplin and Tommy Cooper.
There is something about watching Shakespeare outdoors that adds to the experience, I think it reminds me of earlier days when we went to see productions with friends at the Auckland University.
There is something about watching Shakespeare outdoors that adds to the experience, I think it reminds me of earlier days when we went to see productions with friends at the Auckland University.
Swingball Champion 1977…
We went to Sue’s Brother’s place a while back to help put up some guttering and to have a family get together. The weather was great and we sat out in the garden and played swingball, something I had not done for many years.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Flying south…
We are planning a short visit down under to visit friends and family in NZ in October and to show Jamie around some of the sites (he wants to do the Sky-Jump and Zorbing). So we will try and set a date when we are in Auckland
Where has the sunshine gone…?
I know we shouldn’t expect too much of the British Summer but our hopes were initially lifted by a good spring and the promise by the forecaster’s of a BBQ Summer. Now that June and July have been predominately wet and gloomy the forecaster’s have revised there predictions for the worst.
On the plus side the wet weather has meant that we have not had to water the allotment, though we have not had much time outside and we are getting fed up with the wet and cold. We do have the occasional day of sunshine and heat, but it is unpredictable and short lived as another shower passes through to dampen our enthusiasm. Oh well, I guess it will soon be Christmas!
More banjos than is healthy…
We went to another festival recently, though on a much smaller scale and restricted musical theme as a local village held its 9th Surrey Mini Bluegrass Festival in the village hall. We have been to folk festivals, jazz festivals and now a bluegrass festival, and it seems there are similar types of people at each, just wearing different ‘uniforms’. It was a small, intimate and friendly atmosphere and we did hear some very talented musicians, and I even enjoyed one so much I bought their album.
Wood, Wire and Words are a family trio of husband and wife and wife’s dad who played a more accessible style of bluegrass that was centred on the lyrics of the young lead singer.
Wood, Wire and Words are a family trio of husband and wife and wife’s dad who played a more accessible style of bluegrass that was centred on the lyrics of the young lead singer.
Mad for Womad…
Our now regular trip to the Womad festival was not hampered greatly by the British summer weather and we managed to dress accordingly and shelter when necessary as the rains came and went. The site was prey good again though the organisers suffered problems with the toilets, and we mourned the lack of the Pieminister food stall and the small Little Italy Tent.
Again we saw and amazing selection of artists that most of us knew nothing of. There seemed to be a jazz influence to this year’s line-up culminating in the foremost Acid Jazz performer – Roy Ayers.
Some of the acts we saw included:
Caravan Palace downloaded their album)
Rachel Unthank and The Winterset (on my wish list)
Sarah Savoy & The Francadians (would love to get something of theirs)
17 Hippies (on my wish list)
Victor Deme (on my wish list)
Hindi Zahra
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Mec Yek
Solomon Burke
Roy Ayers
Youssou N’Dour
Spiro
Nneke
Ethiopiques
Los Desterrados
Long days (and nights) of prolonged drinking and festival atmosphere did produce some amusing incidents, like putting an order in for tea & toast in the middle of the night under the name of ‘fudgy-foo-foo’ and having another late night cuppa in a chi tent as kids inhaled ‘laughing-gas’ from balloons and a single mum smoked a joint as her baby slept in a pram nearby.
It was such an education for us innocents abroad in everyway.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Gently does it...
Titsey Place - House and Gardens
After an entertaining and excessive party recently we woke up gently the next day at our friend’s house to bright sunshine and a bacon butty. Paul, one of those celebrating a birthday, lived here and he took us out to where he worked at the grand and historic Titsey Place near Oxted. He spends most of his time out in the gardens and use his woodman skills to create impressive arches and other woven wood structures for the kitchen garden. It was a wonderful place with lovely different garden areas to stroll through and to slowly recover from a hard night before.
After an entertaining and excessive party recently we woke up gently the next day at our friend’s house to bright sunshine and a bacon butty. Paul, one of those celebrating a birthday, lived here and he took us out to where he worked at the grand and historic Titsey Place near Oxted. He spends most of his time out in the gardens and use his woodman skills to create impressive arches and other woven wood structures for the kitchen garden. It was a wonderful place with lovely different garden areas to stroll through and to slowly recover from a hard night before.
Poynter Pointing Party…
We enlisted the help of Sue’s family (the Poynter’s) to fix the mortar pointing around the windows at the back of the house that had been left neglected for many years and had crumbled away in areas exposing large gaps that let the weather in. Sue’s brother Dave and his eldest son Nick did the work as they have experience in building work, while I acted as gofer. Sue and her mum did domestic chores and prepared a sumptuous meal for us in the evening when Sue’s other brother and his wife joined us.
Writing unblocked...
I have finally got around to more writing, this time it was a short (2000 word) story for the Guardian Short Story Competition. I did rework something that I had started a few years ago, but after the initial fear about putting pen to paper again, I found I quite enjoyed the process. Hopefully this won’t be the end of things now. I will have to keep my eye out for other competitions where the deadline and restrictions give me focus.
A Picnic in the Park...
Reigate Priory
We took an afternoon off recently and went for a picnic in this delightful park on a Sunday. It is a large space with a variety of areas for perambulating, sports, children, views and lolling about. It was nice to see so many people out and about, families together, groups of friends and work colleagues and couples.
We took an afternoon off recently and went for a picnic in this delightful park on a Sunday. It is a large space with a variety of areas for perambulating, sports, children, views and lolling about. It was nice to see so many people out and about, families together, groups of friends and work colleagues and couples.
I know wot I like….
I have been asked to make a few musical recommendations on folk music. I can’t say that I am an authority on any genre as I tend to dip into many different styles of music, but I know what I like. These that I have chosen here a generally English folk, though they are more modern than traditional and so are influenced by the country’s more cosmopolitan nature.
Musical Recommendations – English Folk
Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby
The most traditional of the four albums selected here, Kate has a clear and sweetly regional accent that lends itself well to the gentle and clean sound that she creates. This is a beautiful album for either background music or quiet contemplation. I would say this is a good album to introduce you to the folk style.
The Imagined Village
This is something quite different in that it is a determined attempt at moving the genre along to better represent the modern world. A great collective of people mixing folk stalwarts such as Martin and Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Chris Wood and Billy Bragg, with new borrowed cultural music from Sheila Chandra, rock influences like Paul Weller and Trans Global Underground and even poetry from Benjamin Zephaniah. This might not be for the old traditionalist, but it is very relevant to the new audience of today.
‘The Imagined Village is an ambitious reinvention of the English folk tradition, embracing modern-day culture in all the diversity. Classic folk songs are skilfully reworked with the sounds and voices of today, updating the tradition for a new generation.’
The Boy Bands Have Won by Chumbawamba
Folk has always had its political and protesting side to it and this band, like the Imagined Village, have set out trying to push the genre forward into the future. They are a very considered and thoughtful group who have a point to make even when you don’t realise it as you listen to the catchy tunes and often humorous lyrics.
‘The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, wether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.’
Burlesque by Bellowhead
This is a big band with a big sound that is quite a contrast to the gentle sounds of Kate Rusby, as they relish the wall of sound that the mixture of instruments can achieve. They are all about entertainment and they take the traditional folk songs and add colour and lights to the sound.
‘M’Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure – oh yes – to present these rare and glittering gems, these dazzling and delectable delights, these precious sparkling stones from the gilded coronet, the diamante tiara that is indeed the English music tradition.
So without further ado, pray sit back, recline and repose whilst we entertain and edify you, courtesy of the bold and brazen brass, soothing soniforous strings, rich and resplendent reeds, pantechnicon of outré percussion, and of course, vivacious, nay, effervescent vocals, that conjoin and coalesce to form the truly singular sui generis that is: Bellowhead!’
Musical Recommendations – English Folk
Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby
The most traditional of the four albums selected here, Kate has a clear and sweetly regional accent that lends itself well to the gentle and clean sound that she creates. This is a beautiful album for either background music or quiet contemplation. I would say this is a good album to introduce you to the folk style.
The Imagined Village
This is something quite different in that it is a determined attempt at moving the genre along to better represent the modern world. A great collective of people mixing folk stalwarts such as Martin and Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Chris Wood and Billy Bragg, with new borrowed cultural music from Sheila Chandra, rock influences like Paul Weller and Trans Global Underground and even poetry from Benjamin Zephaniah. This might not be for the old traditionalist, but it is very relevant to the new audience of today.
‘The Imagined Village is an ambitious reinvention of the English folk tradition, embracing modern-day culture in all the diversity. Classic folk songs are skilfully reworked with the sounds and voices of today, updating the tradition for a new generation.’
The Boy Bands Have Won by Chumbawamba
Folk has always had its political and protesting side to it and this band, like the Imagined Village, have set out trying to push the genre forward into the future. They are a very considered and thoughtful group who have a point to make even when you don’t realise it as you listen to the catchy tunes and often humorous lyrics.
‘The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, wether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.’
Burlesque by Bellowhead
This is a big band with a big sound that is quite a contrast to the gentle sounds of Kate Rusby, as they relish the wall of sound that the mixture of instruments can achieve. They are all about entertainment and they take the traditional folk songs and add colour and lights to the sound.
‘M’Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure – oh yes – to present these rare and glittering gems, these dazzling and delectable delights, these precious sparkling stones from the gilded coronet, the diamante tiara that is indeed the English music tradition.
So without further ado, pray sit back, recline and repose whilst we entertain and edify you, courtesy of the bold and brazen brass, soothing soniforous strings, rich and resplendent reeds, pantechnicon of outré percussion, and of course, vivacious, nay, effervescent vocals, that conjoin and coalesce to form the truly singular sui generis that is: Bellowhead!’
More of wot I have seen…
Public Enemies
We recently saw this movie in the small cinema in Reigate. It relies a lot on the action and momentum to carry it along, which it does apace. The characters were fun too, if a little two dimensional, but that fitted with the almost cartoon feel to the story
We recently saw this movie in the small cinema in Reigate. It relies a lot on the action and momentum to carry it along, which it does apace. The characters were fun too, if a little two dimensional, but that fitted with the almost cartoon feel to the story
Fiddly French fingers…
Seen recently at the Dorking Folk Club was this artist who had amazing skills in guitar finger-picking. The intros to the songs were longer than the songs themselves. He was also a nice guy with a good sense of humour.
‘Claude Bourbon - A breathtaking fusion of Blues, Folk, Jazz, Classical and Spanish guitar. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision and instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz.
A formidable performer, Claude may have his roots in the blues, but he is inspired by music from all around the world, taking these sounds and weaving them into a performance of melodies that defy a label, all delivered with a gravely voice that has given him the nickname of "The Frog with the blues".’
‘Claude Bourbon - A breathtaking fusion of Blues, Folk, Jazz, Classical and Spanish guitar. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision and instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz.
A formidable performer, Claude may have his roots in the blues, but he is inspired by music from all around the world, taking these sounds and weaving them into a performance of melodies that defy a label, all delivered with a gravely voice that has given him the nickname of "The Frog with the blues".’
More wot I have read…
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
This was the second book from the same author that Sue enjoyed and suggested I read. Like the first one it too was slow to start and the author spent a lot of time setting the scene and fleshing out the characters. This story spanned several time periods and geographical locations but was nicely resolved. A good period drama.
‘Before her eyes the garden changed. Weeds and brambles, decades in the growing, receded. Leaves lifted from the ground, revealing paths and flowerbeds and a garden seat. Light was permitted entry once more…
1913
On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without trace.
1975
Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell’s journey after all these years.
2005
On Nell’s death her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds – secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why young Nell was abandoned all those decades before’
This was the second book from the same author that Sue enjoyed and suggested I read. Like the first one it too was slow to start and the author spent a lot of time setting the scene and fleshing out the characters. This story spanned several time periods and geographical locations but was nicely resolved. A good period drama.
‘Before her eyes the garden changed. Weeds and brambles, decades in the growing, receded. Leaves lifted from the ground, revealing paths and flowerbeds and a garden seat. Light was permitted entry once more…
1913
On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without trace.
1975
Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell’s journey after all these years.
2005
On Nell’s death her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds – secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why young Nell was abandoned all those decades before’
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