Spoiler Alert
“May I give you a compliment?” asked Peirene this morning. “Don’t hold back” I encouraged this unusual behaviour. “Our Salons are wonderful.” I beamed all over the face. “Thank you.” “Guess why?” she...
View ArticlePulling the Plug Desire
Peirene author No 9, Swiss Richard Weihe, came to town for four days to launch Sea of Ink. We organized three events – a Peirene Experience with music and dramatic reading, an author’s talk at a...
View ArticleA Happy Nymph
Andrew Motion was the star of the 16th Peirene Salon. It was one of our best. 53 guests listened to an exclusive taster of his forthcoming Selective Poems. You could have heard a needle drop on the...
View ArticleThe Wine Trick
Well, I really enjoyed my own party last night. I am delighted to make this statement. It took 17 salons to get to this point. I’ve always liked the idea of holding literary salons in my house. Truth...
View ArticleThe Most Amazing Washing Up Trick
We launched Peirene No 11, Mr Darwin’s Gardener. Author Kristina Carslson came to town and caused a storm. Our Supper Club on Thursday was gate-crashed and the Salon was attended by guests who came...
View ArticleAn Unique Salon
Ben Helfgott was born in 1929 in Poland. He is one of a dwindling band of Holocaust survivors and on Saturday he was our guest at the Peirene Salon. He told us about surviving Buchenwald and...
View ArticleHome Sweet Home
Three weeks ago we were burgled. The insurance company is probably not going to pay out because I ‘run a business from home’. They argue that because I receive business contacts in our house, our home...
View ArticleThe Nymph & The World Cup
On Saturday I held the 22nd Peirene Salon in our house. Many features remain the same with each salon – the potato salad, the cheese, the cakes, the wines, the order of events. Regular attendees know...
View ArticleThoughts of a Hostess
Last Wednesday I went to see the artist Marina Abramovic at the Serpentine Gallery where she is staging ‘512 Hours’. For three months Marina Abramovic is at the gallery from 10am to 6pm, six days a...
View ArticleWriting Like a Libyan Jazz Musician
The Nymph has been out of action since Sunday. A bad migraine attack has kept her in bed. Every now and again I peep into her darkened room. ‘I’m so exhausted,’ she sighs. ‘My poor, poor head has gone...
View ArticleDiscovering Serenity
‘You are a hero,’ I hear the Nymph mumble in the background as I light a candle. I take my mug and sit down on the sofa. It’s two o’clock on the Sunday afternoon following the 24th Peirene Salon. As I...
View ArticleOne Year Older
‘Welcome back to the land of the living,’ Peirene greets me with a teasing smile. It’s Tuesday late morning and for the first time this week I am making an appearance in Peirene HQ. A migraine struck...
View ArticleSleep
‘Oooh, isn’t it exciting!’ Peirene exclaims. It’s the morning after our 26th Salon. The Nymph and I are moving boxes from the bedroom back into the office… Well, I’m moving boxes. While I’m pushing...
View ArticleOf Husbands and Whiskies
To no surprise, writers fear discussions about their book in a foreign language. What if I can’t express myself adequately? What if I don’t understand the questions? In addition, there are writers who...
View ArticleAfter Midnight
‘James won’t be able to load the dishwasher probably. Not like Clara. And then what? Then I will have to reload it tonight after the Salon. In the middle of the night. When I’m totally exhausted.’ It’s...
View ArticleReading Break
I’m in Scotland for a week – to catch up with my reading and stock up on whiskey for the next salons. I will be back with new Peirene adventures second week of June.
View ArticleAn Alien Spaceship In our Garden
It’s hard to allow others to express their creativity. Especially if that person is my husband AND he decides to express his creativity in garden design. For the record: We’ve been together for nearly...
View ArticleHoover Threapy
‘I think you might soon be out of a job,’ I hear the Nymph say. She is standing in the door, both hands in hips, watching me hoover the living room after last nights Salon. I’m working very slowly. My...
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