RIP- Maeve Binchy

(Pic courtesy BBC Website)

I normally go straight to the BBC website every morning and catch up on all the latest news. Today, I was in for a real shock for this is what I saw...

"Best-selling Irish author Maeve Binchy has died aged 72 after a short illness."

And here's the link that said it all

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19057922



'Binchy, born in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has sold more than 40 million books. Her works were often set in Ireland and have been translated into 37 languages.

They include The Lilac Bus as well as Tara Road and Circle of Friends, which were both adapted for screen.Binchy trained as a teacher before moving into journalism and writing, publishing her first novel - Light a Penny Candle - in 1982.

She had written the novel in her spare time from her day job as a journalist at The Irish Times.


In a 2001 interview with the BBC, after she had won the WHSmith Book Award for fiction, Binchy described the five rejections she received for her first novel as "a slap in the face".


Binchy had sold more than 40 million books worldwide She said she was glad she persevered and sent the book to a sixth publisher."It's like if you don't go to a dance you can never be rejected but you'll never get to dance either," she said.

The author said that her secret was to write the way she spoke."I don't say I was 'proceeding down a thoroughfare', I say I 'walked down the road'. I don't say I 'passed a hallowed institute of learning', I say I 'passed a school'.


"You don't wear all your jewellery at once," she went on. "You're much more believable if you talk in your own voice."


RIP Maeve Binchy- Like countless readers and admirers of your work, I will miss you.....

The window with a view


 Recently we spent some time in Himachal Pradesh in India. One place in particular is very high on our list of favourites, Mashobra. 

There were days filled with warmth and sunshine and then there were the cold, wet and windy days. 

And the rainy days were ones that I spent at my favourite spot at the window, watching the valley below. Hours when I could just relax and unwind for there seemed to be no rush to go anywhere. 

I could also indulge in my passion for photography and even though I've probably clicked this same spot and view below at least fifty times, I've no regrets.

For I've enjoyed myself thoroughly each time I've done so.

My Window With a View 




The view on a rainy day

 

So here they are, two of my current favourite shots- my window seat and the view that I looked at . Am fairly sure you will like them too! 

The magnificent Royal Opera House, Muscat

The Royal Opera House, Muscat (ROHM) was inaugurated by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said last October and in his inaugural speech, he outlined his vision for the same. The essence of what he said can be simplified to mean that since Oman had played a significant role in various cultural fields in the past, it was now time for it to cap that rich march by adopting the concepts of international culture and by effective contribution to its promotion. To that end, it will be the ROHM that will showcase Oman’s creative and cultural heritage and provide Oman with a gateway to the international arena in the very real sense.







We've been lucky enough to visit the Opera House on more than one ocassion- the first, for a  wonderful show featuring the Whirling Dervishes and a more recent 'Open House'. On each of these ocassions, we've been struck by the excellence and detailing thats gone into making this place the superb piece of architectural  and cultural hub that its meant to be.

Here's a very real recommendation- do check it out folks,  at the very next opportunity that you get. Its truly one of those places that will stay in your mind and heart forever!