The Holly and the Ivy

In 1908 Colonel William Verner Ellis (*) had long been retired from the British Indian Army and an adventurous & distinguished career playing “The Great Game”. His restless nature found him one grey winter’s day, [more…]

You know who you are. You can cook, possibly even turn out a decent meringué or even a soufflé, but the mere thought of baking a loaf of bread fills you with irrational fear. The [more…]

Painted in about 1470/75, it is in the National Gallery. One of my favourite carols: Merry Christmas!   OldTrout 2019