Cotswold Diary, Note 12: Roman Soldiers, British Spies, a Bush Proposal, and a Whopping War Tale

Never a dull moment in Painswick: House update, Roman soldiers at breakfast, spies at supper, sweethearts in the bush, and a whopping great war story. Click title above and keep reading…


Cotswold Diary, Note 11, Debra

Caution: This post contains pole dancing.
Based on a true story that happened near us in the Cotswolds, Heavenly Bodies follows the plight of a tiny but devoted group of elderly ladies determined to keep their small parish church afloat. At their wits’ end, they agree to allow a pole-dancing instructor to set up shop in the chapel. What could possibly go wrong…


Cotswold Diary, Note 10

I’ve been meaning to write an update, but I’m not agile enough actually to do things and to post things at the same time, and there’s been a lotta doin’. That and wanting to write the perfect pithy thing and letting perfect get in the way of okay, as in doing anything at all. That… Continue reading Cotswold Diary, Note 10



Why I Bought a House in the Cotswolds
Cotswold Diary, Note 8

Warning: This post has more I’s in it than the word Mississippi X 20. Excuse me (and I), but I reckon a personal question asks a personal answer, so here it is: Why did I buy a house in the Cotswolds? If you follow my wildly sporadic posts, you may recall that last summer I… Continue reading Why I Bought a House in the Cotswolds
Cotswold Diary, Note 8


Cotswold Diary, Note 7.5: Lordy Mercy I’ve Done It Now…

Bought a New Old House

Have you ever done anything completely crazy? I mean since you were older than, like, 15. Like buy a house you probably cannot afford? In a foreign country? Oh you’re out there I know. Please call me and tell me it will be okay. Because not everyone thinks so. Like my friend Memrie. This is… Continue reading Cotswold Diary, Note 7.5: Lordy Mercy I’ve Done It Now…

Bought a New Old House


Cotswolds Diary, Note 7, Blenheim Palace

You may note I’ve switched from diary entries as “Day” to “Note,” because I’m no longer keeping up here in real time. On Instagram yes, more or less, but here, there’s a lag. Hope you don’t mind. What I’ve learned is that there are not more hours in the day here in the Cotswolds than… Continue reading Cotswolds Diary, Note 7, Blenheim Palace


Cotswolds Diary, Day 4(th of July!)

As I settle in – and am not yet quite – I did want not to miss a return to Hidcote, and my friend Jonathan (MFJ) wanted to go, too. As a side note, happy to report that in driving there (he offered but I wanted to practice) I only hit the curb once, though… Continue reading Cotswolds Diary, Day 4(th of July!)


Cotswolds Diary, Day 3

Pinching myself to be here after nearly killing myself to get here driving on the left. Not really… but two loud and rather disturbing encounters with curbs and upclose inspections of hedgerows, some of which are now intrinsic parts of my rented automobile. A little Audi almost station wagon, good for toting painting gear. My… Continue reading Cotswolds Diary, Day 3


Cotswold Diary, Day (-1), Packing Tips

Packing Packing Packing. Bless my little OCD heart. On the one hand: Very Organized. On the other: Very Organized. And on the Other Other: Entirely Overthought. Which leads, occasionally, to overwrought. Which I recommend avoiding whenever possible. I thought I could make it with three suitcases, two for clothes and one for art. But then,… Continue reading Cotswold Diary, Day (-1), Packing Tips


Cotswold Diary, Day (-4)

For reasons not entirely clear to me, I have rented a charming studio flat in Middle Duntisborne, Gloucestershire, England, for a month, a month. Middle Duntisbourne is smaller than Tarboro.*  It is near Cirencester, however, which is bigger and has lots going on and shops and a street market and an amazing church. I’m not… Continue reading Cotswold Diary, Day (-4)