Gene Hsu's Quest for the Traditional Chinese Language

We talk to Gene, an amazing young lady with a quest to build a bridge between cultures of the East and West by her research and work in music, translation and interpreting.

Becky JamesOctober 5, 2024Gene Hsu, linguist, singer, Traditional Chinese, East and WestComment

Johanna Schwaiger, sculptress, finding a traditional path in today's world

Our friend Johanna Schwaiger, sculptress, joins us to talk about her career and finding a traditional path in today's world.

Becky JamesMay 11, 2024Comment

Catch Up and Batch Cook

We chat about food, some of our favourite cooking methods, some time-saving and food storage tips.

Becky JamesFebruary 29, 2024Comment

The Power of Traditional and Ancient Artwork

We chat about Paula’s recent trip to New York where she attended The 6th NTD International Figure Painting Competition Awards and The Art of Zhen Shan Ren (Truth Compassion Tolerance)..

Becky JamesJanuary 31, 2024Comment

On Creating Art

Finally, Becky and Paula get together and chat about being a creative type and what that means to them…

our diariesBecky JamesOctober 15, 2023art, creating art, Paula, BeckyComment

What to do with your Dahlias in the UK at the end of the growing season

My interest started with a visit to a family friend’s garden with my Mum and my mother exclaimed at how beautiful the Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ was which triggered my emotional tie to the flowers.

in the gardenPaula WilsonDecember 4, 2022Paula Wilson, Dahlias, gardening, plant protection, plant careComment

Trailer for 'Our Diaries with Becky and Paula'

our diariesBecky JamesJuly 27, 2022becky, paula, diariesComment

Gingko Biloba and the Plum Tree - Part Two -

‘Is that your Plum Tree Becky that we saw in your blog posts last year?’ I asked

in the gardenPaula WilsonFebruary 20, 2022Paula Wilson, plum tree, pruning, gardening, All our blogsComment

Gingko Biloba and the Plum Tree - Part One -

We went to visit Becky and Neil in Bristol their beautiful home and the boys were able to spend time with Connie.

in the gardenPaula WilsonSeptember 26, 2021Paula, Becky, pruning, gardening, plum tree, Gingko Biloba, birthday, visit, holiday Comments

My Mum's Apple Cake by Paula

If there is one recipe that I always wanted to have passed down (I am sure there are many) then this is definitely one of those. My Mum’s apple cake. Strictly speaking it’s not my Mum’s own recipe as her friend Ruby gave her a photocopy from a cook book .

the food diariesPaula WilsonMarch 22, 2021apples, family, baking, cooking, cake, recipe, Paula WilsonComment

'Dismantled Cottage Pie' by Paula

Leading busy lives can be challenging to remember to plan to make wholesome food. I have found so over the years of bringing up twins mostly by myself with a little help along the way from friends and family.

the food diariesPaula WilsonMarch 18, 2021cooking, home made, food, family, Paula WilsonComment

A Surprise Crop - Part Two by Paula

So we brought the large colander full of small purple grapes into the kitchen after my son Trinley and I had tasted a couple - just about sour turning to sweet - perfect!

in the garden, the food diariesPaula WilsonFebruary 25, 2021gardening, grapes, homegrowngrapes, grow your own, Paula WilsonComment

Wonder dough by Paula

This dough recipe is taken from Delia Smith’s pitta bread recipe of which this works for every time like magic!

the food diariesPaula WilsonFebruary 25, 2021dough, bread, recipe, Paula WilsonComment

Yeshe Makes Brownies by Paula and Yeshe

I’ve never made brownies before, and I wanted to see what homemade brownies looked like because I’ve only ever had a brownie once before. I felt pretty confident of making them by myself and so I tried it and it worked perfectly.

the food diariesPaula WilsonNovember 7, 2020food, baking, cooking, family, children, Paula Wilson, YesheComment

A Surprise Crop - Part One by Paula

I bought three grape plants from a garden centre here in the UK, a few years ago now, as they were reduced to £3 each

Mid Summer light in the garden 2020 by Paula

Hi everyone, I hope that life is treating you well in these difficult times…here’s a short film of the garden for you to enjoy. I shot it on the Summer Solstice

in the gardenPaula WilsonJune 28, 2020gardens, cheshire, UK, summer solstice, summer, Paula WilsonComment

The Creative Process : A small journal by Paula

arts and craftsPaula WilsonJune 27, 2020art, gardening, creative process, emotional journey, Paula WilsonComment

The Garden after the thunder and rain June 2020 by Paula

I thought you may like to see a short film of some of the garden. The Garden has all been planted by myself over the 21 years that I have been in the house all from scratch and has a life of its own!

in the gardenPaula WilsonJune 20, 2020gardening, flowers, ponds, life in Britain, UK, in lockdown, lockdown2020, summer solstice, Paula WilsonComment

Glad to welcome Paula as a new contributor!

Really pleased Paula is joining in. She is a very talented artist, gardener, maker of her own organic skincare. Whenever I call her she is usually making, baking, painting or doing something creative and inspiring.

arts and crafts, in the gardenBecky JamesMay 6, 2020Paula Wilson