Author Archives: dispatchesfromtheformernewworld

On Thanksgiving and Guy Fawkes Day

Posted on November 21, 2018

One of the oddest questions I’ve been asked since moving to the U.S. is “Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in England?” Yes, this was a real question. I resisted the temptation to answer “Yes, we celebrate that the Puritans left and … Continue reading →

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An American Wedding

Posted on November 2, 2018

The bride wore white. The bride wore red. It was an American wedding. The marriage of my cousin Christopher’s daughter Emily and Kunal, the son of Indian-Americans.  Family members of the bride and groom traveled to the little town of … Continue reading →

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A Room With a View

Posted on October 11, 2018

The excited cries and yells of the teenagers echoed down the narrow, winding stone staircase and into our tiny hotel room where we were trying, unsuccessfully, to unpack without bumping into one another. We had just arrived at the Porta … Continue reading →

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Resistance in World War II

Posted on October 3, 2018

My latest blog for my former professional home, Montgomery County Public Libraries, is a companion piece to my post on Churchill’s V sign. I introduce a selection of books on World War II resistance in Europe and reveal my favorite … Continue reading →

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My Love Affair with Gerard Manley Hopkins

Posted on September 3, 2018

Last Saturday I watched the funeral service for Senator John McCain at the National Cathedral. I really tuned in because I wanted to hear President Obama’s eulogy, but I was soon drawn in by the beauty and dignity of the … Continue reading →

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The Darkest Hour, The Suspect V

Posted on August 22, 2018

I finally got to watch the much lauded film The Darkest Hour last weekend. Gary Oldman’s performance as Winston Churchill certainly deserved the Oscar Award for Best Actor. Equally deserving were the creative group who won the Oscar for Makeup. … Continue reading →

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Fish N’ Chips N’ a Stripper

Posted on July 26, 2018

“Now I can tell you what happened,” whispered my husband Mel when the children had finished eating and gone to play in the other room. He did have a strange expression on his face when he came back from the … Continue reading →

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