Category Archives: Uncategorized

Daniel Ross RS, Surveyor General of India

Posted on 4th December 2025 by Hilary

What was it about Daniel Ross (1780–1849) that he, a freed slave and bastard, reached the acceptance and respect of the highest levels of British Society? If Daniel was overcome his lowly birth as bastard, freed slave and of colour, he … Continue reading →

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1924 Going on Safari

Posted on 14th March 2020 by Hilary

In 1924, newly-married Emilie May accompanied her husband Fred on a Tax collecting drive in the Native Reserve and on Squatters on farms near Machakos. Fred went on these Safaris at least once a month for around two weeks.  She … Continue reading →

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Jumping in Time within a novel and avoiding clichés

Posted on 23rd August 2019 by Hilary

I seek out books that are set in different times and the story moves forwards and backwards between those times. I want to know how the author has handled both the passage of time and signals that time has moved … Continue reading →

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The challenges of writing Narrative Non-Fiction

Posted on 11th July 2019 by Hilary

It’s been five weeks since I had my first meeting and my first milestone was set: a strapline, a story arc and 20,000 words, much of it already written, so meeting the deadline six weeks away in mid-July should have … Continue reading →

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The Passing

Posted on 14th September 2014 by Hilary

The Passing

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Jo Sargent, founding teacher at WAB

Posted on 14th September 2014 by Hilary

WAB Alumna Teacher Profile: Jo Sargent | Lianxi>more…. Published in 2012 in Western academy of Beijing Lianxi

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El-Alamein 70 years on

Posted on 14th October 2012 by Hilary

Anniversaries are popular, and seventy has a good ring to it, so it was no surprise the other day to find tour buses at Alamein carrying tourists, that most rare of specie in Egypt this past couple of years. It … Continue reading →

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Achieving the Egyptian way

Posted on 4th October 2012 by Hilary

It seems unsurprising that an 18 year-old Egyptian woman wants to be a journalist.  Many were politicized by the 2010 Revolution. To achieve the necessary college education she must get high grades in the final General Secondary School exam next … Continue reading →

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For want of education

Posted on 28th September 2012 by Hilary

Comparative religion is not taught in schools in the Middle East.  Which is a pity because a little understanding of Christianity would have informed Ahmed Mohammed Abdullah that Christians from different Churches or Denominations have very different theological tenets resulting in … Continue reading →

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Summer strategies in hot climates

Posted on 30th July 2012 by Hilary

If it is 31 oC at 3:15 am at Erbil airport when my plane landed, it is never going to be cool during the day.   By noon the land was baking, and so am I,  and no rain is forecast … Continue reading →

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