Marking the dawn of a new day
Regularly visited by bouts of insomnia I’m no stranger to the small hours. I wouldn’t describe it as productive time; although when else am I going to revisit every slightly awkward conversation I have ever had or every minor (and not so minor) mistake I have ever made? In short, I’m used to being awake at the crack of dawn, but being awake, dressed and … Continue reading Marking the dawn of a new day
A night at The Buxton, London
When you stumble across a fabulous restaurant, a vibrant pub or an under-the-radar attraction, it’s tempting to keep it to yourself lest the hoards descend, and you can never again book a table or find a spot at the bar. Luckily for you, I’m not a selfish soul so I’m going to tell you about a (relatively) new place to stay in London. Living in … Continue reading A night at The Buxton, London
The podcasts that keep me reading
This week some of my favourite podcasts are returning from their summer hiatus so I thought it timely to share them with you. I’m a late, but enthusiastic podcast adopter. I started with Serial (who didn’t?) but it wasn’t until last year when, faced with another house renovation project, I fancied something other than the radio to drown out the sound of floorboards being sanded. … Continue reading The podcasts that keep me reading
Boat trip to the Maunsell Fort
Himself has taken to watching dull TV programmes in bed. I had assumed this was part of a strategy to combat late-night insomnia and bore himself to sleep, but it turns out he quite enjoys them. Given that in recent weeks I have drifted off to the low-volume mumbles of several of the shows the channel Yesterday has to offer, you’ll be as surprised as … Continue reading Boat trip to the Maunsell Fort
Adopt, Don’t Shop: Could you give a rescue dog a home?
Today is my dog’s Gotcha Day. Being a rescue dog, we don’t know his actual date of birth so instead, like many other adopters, we mark the day we welcomed him into our home. I remember that day – seven years go – vividly. He charged into the lounge, running across the sofa at 100mph before landing with a thud and looking at me expectantly. … Continue reading Adopt, Don’t Shop: Could you give a rescue dog a home?
My insomni-action kit – revisited
A few years ago, I spent nine months straight getting by on little more than four hours sleep a night. I had previously been a good sleeper; excellent in fact. Car rides had the power to send me to sleep. I could (and did) sleep through a hurricane. I would regularly head to bed earlier than your average toddler and wake some 10 hours later, irritatingly … Continue reading My insomni-action kit – revisited
Ramsgate Tunnels blackout tour – life underground during WWII
I studied history to A-level, which means eight years of lessons in total. Throughout this time, I failed to get excited about a single treaty-signing, nor could I remember any significant dates or locations (apologies to Mr Pugh, who remained cheerful despite my shortcomings). What really interested me were the stories of the people involved in each battle, famine and revolution. History lessons offered a … Continue reading Ramsgate Tunnels blackout tour – life underground during WWII
Crowdfunding authors: Backing books I want to read
If you’re around my age, ‘backing books’ will conjure up images of wrestling your school set texts into jackets of brown paper (or Fablon if you were a bit posh). But, this isn’t a post about the merits of attempting to protect the cover of your already dog-eared Tricolore. Last year, author Caitlin Davies spoke at the Margate Bookie literary festival. She told the story … Continue reading Crowdfunding authors: Backing books I want to read
Today I joined a book group
My name is Gemma and I’m a reading addict, so I have joined a support group. Well, I’ve joined Bee’s Bookshare in Margate, which I reckon will be kind of the same thing. I love reading. When I’m organised, I can easily read a book a week, if not more. I achieve this by being generally antisocial (reading while eating, reading while travelling) and it … Continue reading Today I joined a book group
Sirayane Boutique Hotel and Spa, Marrakech
With fresh rose petals on the sheets, and double beds surrounding the swimming pool, the Sirayane hotel and spa in Marrakech was geared up for couples, but turned out to be perfect for a short break with good friends. This week, me and four pals flew to Morocco for a few days of relaxation to mark a significant (but unmentionable) milestone birthday. Our criteria for … Continue reading Sirayane Boutique Hotel and Spa, Marrakech
Gem's Things 