Snippets of French History: Richard the Lionheart

King Richard I of England and King Richard IV of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes and Overlord of Brittany, 1157-1199.

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/snippets-of-french-history-richard-the-lionheart/

Snippets of French History: Mrs Conqueror

I mean Mathilda of Flanders, Duchess of Normandy, Queen of England, wife of William the Conqueror.

She was born circa 1031 and died circa 1083. She was the daughter of Baldwin of Flanders and Adela of France, and the grand daughter of Robert II of France.  Almost nothing is known about her early life except that she had at least one brother and that she was almost certainly very wealthy**.  Any pictures and portrayals of her are results of the artists’ imaginations, and therefore ficticious.  We do know, after scientists exhumed her bones in the 1990s, that she was barely 5′ tall – but that was quite common for her day.

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/snippets-of-french-history-mrs-conqueror/

8th Wonder of the World in Belize

I am a regular visitor to Belize. I love Belize, and my favourite spot is Hopkins.

So, I was interested to see today that the Great Blue Hole off the Belize coast is being voted the 8th Wonder of the World.

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/8th-wonder-of-the-world-in-belize/

Snippets of French History: Antoine de St Exupery

I read “Le Petit Prince” yonks ago – when I was a child I suppose.  I re-read it in English much later and, somehow, the magic of the story is lost in the translation – it is just not the same somehow, though I couldn’t say why.  I also read “Vol de Nuit” (Night Flight) in French and it has the same haunting feel to it.

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/snippets-of-french-history-antoine-de-st-exupery/

Snippets of French History: Bluebell

Margaret Kelly (1910-2004) was born in Dublin and was immediately given up for adoption. She never knew either of her parents and grew up with one Mary Murphy, a spinster, who then moved to Liverpool.  There a doctor suggested Margaret go to dance lessons in order to strengthen her weak legs.  In no time her great talent was discovered.

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/snippets-of-french-history-bluebell/

Snippets of French History: Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Stuart (1542-1587) was born to the king of Scotland, James V, and his French queen, Marie de Guise, at Linthigow Palace in Scotland.  Her father died less than a week after her birth, so she was only 6 days old when she became Queen of Scotland.  Although there is evidence to suggest the baby was premature, she was healthy and thrived quickly.

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/snippets-of-french-history-mary-queen-of-scots/

Extract from 'Saying Nothing'

“Saying Nothing” by Catherine Broughton is a novel set in Spain.  A recent review: I just didn’t know what to think about the decisions the young woman, “Jane”,  in this book made, and I blew hot and cold over her. It is a love story that is quite different from the norm, and I really enjoyed it.  The author weaves the different personalities through the plot, and the plot is clever.  The story unfolds in an unusual way. Some of the descriptions were brilliant too. I think perhaps I didn’t agree with what “Jane” did … it would be interesting to know what other readers think!

For this blog in full and more please see http://www.turquoisemoon.co.uk/blog/extract-from-saying-nothing-2/