Blog

French History: The Hundred Years’ War in a nutshell.

   Seige of Orleans   The Hundred Years’ War is the name given by modern historians to a series of wars that saw vicious conflict between England and France over a period of 116 years, from 1337-1453.   There were fundamentally three main wars, the Edwardian War, the Caroline War and the Lancastrian War, with […]

Posted 11 years ago

French History in a nutshell; little snippets of interest. Asterix! Part 7.

Everybody knows about Asterix and Obelix.  They have sold millions of copies in hundreds of languages all over the world and are as popular today as they were when I was a child … hundreds of years ago. Seriously, the Roman occupation of Gaul started around 121 BC, and was more-or-less complete under the rule […]

Posted 11 years ago

Part 6. The English in France. Dubrovnik sejourn.

  Dubrovnik – Quick sketch done while waiting the following day   Having uploaded this photo, I think it must have been taken the following year because I can see the scar on Bruce’s neck where he had a cancerous somethingorother removed.   He did almost all the driving; we both preferred it that way. Poor […]

Posted 11 years ago

Part 5. The English in France: caravanning on the Adriatic coast.

   One of many attempts to sketch old George.  In old age, like most old folk, he spent a lot of time lying down or sitting waiting like this, his old tail giving the ground little thumps whenever we looked at him. We stopped in Split overnight.  I had been to Split once before, years […]

Posted 11 years ago

Kitten for Chloe. The English in France.

  “Bonjour Madame,” said Chloe, aged 6. “Bonjour Chloe,” I replied … and she planted a couple of little bisous on my cheeks, as French childhood good manners dictate. “Papa says that when we get a house of our own he will buy me a kitten,” she announced (but in French, of course). “That will […]

Posted 11 years ago

Hummingbirds in Belize. Today’s sketch.

    Hummingbirds in Belize, sketch by Catherine Broughton. Catherine Broughton’s novels are available from most usual sources.

Posted 11 years ago

Part 4. The English in France:Caravanning in Croatia

   The Roman amphitheatre at Pula was built sometime around 45 AD.  Pula is the largest town on the Istrean peninsular and even in Roman times, when it was an important port, it had a population of over 30 000.  It was conquered under Julius Ceasar in about 45 BC and remained under Roman rule […]

Posted 11 years ago

Horses for Chloe : today’s sketch. The English in France.

  “Bonjour Madame,” said Chloe. “Bonjour Chloe,” I replied, and I bent down for the obligatory bisou. “What are you doing?” she asked (but in French). “I am writing a story,” I said. “Why?” “Because that is my work, ma petite, I am a writer, I write books.” I took a few off the shelf […]

Posted 11 years ago

Chloe’s ballet dancer. Life in France.

  “Bonjour Madame,” said Chloe, aged 6. “Bonjour Chloe,” I replied. As usual she flapped a bit of paper and a pencil in my face. “I need a ballet dancer!” she declared, but in French. I sat at the kitchen counter and drew her a quick ballet dancer, complete with tutu and flowers in her […]

Posted 11 years ago

Saint Sebastian

  This was painted by Mantegna, an Italian artist, in 1490.  It is full of movement, as Sebastien appears to try to step back, and his loin cloths billow in the breeze.  The expression on his face is so clever.  His hair is also caught in the breeze.   The body is brilliantly painted, with […]

Posted 11 years ago

Books now available on Amazon:

A Call From France
French Sand
Kefani: An African Childhood
The Man With Green Fingers
Saying Nothing