The Romans. Famous for their straight roads, underfloor central heating, emperors, gladiators, cities, togas… Ask who invented something ancient and clever, and a spectral Roman arm will rise up from the annals of history and stake claim.
But none of the above ideas are Roman, even though they want us…
Unless you have been living in a cave you will have heard of ASMR — known colloquially as a brain orgasm. …
On the evening of our fourth wedding anniversary on 30th September, I was quickly checking my emails when a subject line caused a sudden rush of blood to my head.
“Medium Writers Challenge. Signature Requested on: “Please read. …
So, you think you have nothing to say? That you are a small, insignificant voice in a world of shouty people. That you will never fit the mold because there is nothing special about you and no-one could possibly want to read about your thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears.
…
When I was 13 years old in the 1970s, my dad said I could paint my bedroom whatever color I wanted. Being a strange girl, fascinated by the supernatural, death and darkness, I chose deep brown walls and deeper brown paintwork. …
Throbbing with life 24/7, Piazza Santo Spirito, in Florence’s achingly cool Oltrarno district, has been a meeting place since medieval times. Edged with gasp-inducing 15th and 16th-century buildings (including Palazzo Guadagni, on whose chilly candlelit balcony my chaplain husband, wearing army dress uniform, proposed) it is dominated by a Renaissance…
In a dazzle of moves the funeral director closed the program on his computer, fiddled with his fly and leapt to his feet. We hovered at the doorway, not quite believing what we had seen.
“Signore, ladies, good afternoon. Please, take a seat.”
I shot a glance at Judith. Yet…
My friend Helen messaged me. “They’ve got the vaccine in Tuscany!!! I managed to get on the list!!! Here’s the link, don’t be put off if you can’t get an appointment, it took me three goes!!!”
Helen likes the idea of the vaccine as much as she likes exclamation marks…
I’ve had a thing about pyramids ever since visiting Mexico in the early 1980s. I went to Teotihuacàn, location of an ancient complex dating back to 200 ACE which contained the third-largest pyramid in the world, the Pyramid of the Sun. In those pre-digital camera days, I documented the event…
Covid-19 has brought our modern world to its knees. There is barely a country, town or village on the planet that has not been affected by the disease and its restrictions. …
Experienced British writer/editor in Italy | MWC semi-finalist| Loves unusual subjects | Literacy advocate | Helps new writers | https://www.spiderywriting.com
