“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Jalaluddin Rumi When unexpected illness hits we are often lost in its fear and feelings of vulnerability. For some, the light described by Rumi may not enter until the illness has passed over us. Around this theme Robert Mierisch offers…

At the Maddox gallery in Notting Hill is a stunning exhibition by a young Spanish artist, Coco Davez,  aka Valeria Palmiero. The paintings are of faceless, but very recognizable “brands” such as Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Princess Diana and many others. The idea of bringing together art and the notion…

A chance meeting with friends in a cafe recently created a conversation with the talented Robert Mierisch. Here’s a semi-retired engineer, researcher, co-founder of companies dealing with renewable energy. Robert and his family spent many years living in California and he has now embraced a tree change life in rural…

Ilkeston is a town In Derbyshire in the UK, first established on the banks of the Erewash River around the 6th century. During the 19th century,It grew in size due to the numerous coal mines in the area and the existence of Stanton Ironworks, which supplied iron to major projects…

Can a place really be so green, lush and beautiful? I spent the weekend with friends in their converted barn near Skipton in North Yorshire. It was a fleeting visiting to a friend I had worked with in Australian before she married and moved to the UK 20 years ago….

It’s 7am and from my lovely apartment in Nottingham I look out on a landscape waking up to gentle sunshine. It’s going to be another glorious sunny day. I overlook a sea of new buildings and cranes scratching to take their place in the sky. It’s a struggle to house…

On Sunday I walked past a very colourful shop with three cats sitting in the window staring at the long queue of people gathered behind the rope outside. A concierge/ bouncer was keeping the crowd orderly although there was great excitement in the air.  The crowd was long and I…

On October 24th 1975, 90% of Icelandic women didn’t show up for work that day in protest against sexism and inequality. Also in 1970’s Mothers against the Vietnam War were out en masse at every anti-Vietnam demonstration. Some of us were active unionists. Others committed feminists. We fought our way…

At times life can wear us out even when it’s just the day to day hum of caring for others, getting things done, staying connected and existing in a complex world. Time – out and renewal come in many forms and we’ll be looking at this idea over the next…