The Easthope stories by Lois

Climbing trees

Climbing trees… This is what Beulah did in “Night Vision”: When something terrible has happened, childhood seems safe. And to reclaim a happy childhood it sometimes seems a good idea to do childish things, innocent childish things. So Beulah climbed a tree… Beulah has had a terrible row with her husband Neil and angry and […]

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Family Stories by Lois

Easter holiday with the family

Each year my four cousins and their families, and me with my family, go on holiday together. We first did this ten years ago at Easter, and went to the Ebenezer Chapel in Derbyshire, near Belper. Some of the older generation came too, my cousins father Ken, and our Aunty Audrey and Uncle Sid. We had a wonderful time together, nearly thirty of us staying […]

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Family Stories by Lois

The end of my Colgate story

I have yet to publish the last chapter of the Colgates in Bletchingley, but on  a recent visit there I found Henry and Charlotte Colgate, the first of the family to live in the pretty little village. Henry came from Kent where his family had lived for generations over hundreds of years. Charlotte came from Horley and was a Jeal before she married […]

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Bits and pieces by Lois

A new chapter…

We were delighted to receive some wonderful news yesterday. We were sitting with some of our oldest and best friends on Box Hill in Surrey when we got a phone call. My daughter has been accepted into Ulster University. We are so thrilled and delighted for her; this will be a huge change in her life. It will also be a huge change in […]

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Bits and pieces by Lois

Spades

Originally posted on Lois Elsden:
I love funny little museums, the Pencil Museum in Keswick, Cumbria, is wonderful. It gives a fascinating glimpse into the history of that so commonly used writing tool, the humble pencil. Pencils had a huge impact on history, believe it or not… but go to the museum and find out, and enjoy a…

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