Here is a feature I wrote on Alter Egos for Spectator Life.

In 1972 David Bowie introduced the world to Ziggy Stardust – the alter ego he would perform as for the next nine months. Ziggy was a fully formed character in Bowie’s mind. He told William S. Burroughs in an interview in 1974 that: ‘Ziggy is advised in a dream by the infinites to write the coming of a starman, so he writes “Starman,” which is the first news of hope that the people have heard […] Now Ziggy starts to believe in all this himself and thinks himself a prophet of the future starman.’ Spurred on by the success of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie went on to create Aladdin Sane less than a year later. 

I wrote a feature on Authors and their Pseudonyms for Spectator Life.

We don’t normally choose our own name. It is given to us at birth and we have no say in the matter. These names can hang heavy in our mouths if we don’t think they suit us and most of us, at one point or another, have entertained the thought of what it would be like to have a different name.

I reviewed ‘Putney’ by Sofka Zinovieff for ARGO Magazine.

I wrote a feature on the history of Busking for Spectator Life.

Imagine hearing only the clip of your heels on the squares of Covent Garden.   

If Charles Babbage had had his way in 1864 then a walk through town might have been eerily quiet today. 

Another perfume feature! This time on the best perfumes for Summer. Click here to read it.

I have written a piece on Peas (of course!) for The London Magazine inspired by one of the gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Click here to read it.

I wrote a review for ARGO Magazine on the book ‘Greece’ by Michael Carroll.

I co-wrote a quick news story on filming in Surrey. Click here to read it.

‘“If only there could be an invention,” I said impulsively, “that bottled up a memory, like scent. And it never faded, and it never got stale. And then, when one wanted it, the bottle could be uncorked, and it would be like living the moment all over again.”’ 

Such sentiment (as voiced by the anonymous narrator in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca) is highly appealing.

I’ll always find an excuse to write about beauty! This time, it’s perfume. Click here to see my favourite new perfumes for Spring.