Born in Yorkshire, 1945. Had a happy childhood – sorry about that! No ‘mispers’ there!Mary Irvine’s blog: Remembering Margaret Harrison
Remembering Margaret… 1918 – 2015 Glasgow Women’s Library – Friday 15th, 2016, 2pm. Twenty people assembled in the well planned, light, airy and welcoming atmosphere which are the new premises of the Glasgow Women’s Library in Bridgeton. Their purpose? To dedicate a shelf in memory of a lady who filled a different role to different […]
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Saturday, April 23, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s blog: Leven Lits Go International
Leven Litts Go International – with a little help from our (Greek) friends! ‘We’ve under spent! We’ll have to give it back.’ This was the response when the Leven Litts totted up their Lottery Finances as they believed their year-long project was coming to a close. Because of the generosity of a large number of […]
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Thursday, April 21, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine blogging from Greece: Costas’ Rules/Costas Rules!
Costas’ Rules/Costas Rules! Either of these would be appropriate so take your pick! Annoy this cantankerous gentleman and you’ll never darken his bar again. Men have been banned for life for being boring, for trying to add a mixer to Chivas Regal, for questioning the genuineness of his drinks because the price was too low. […]
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Tuesday, March 29, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: blogging from Greece – Interim 4.
Jolly Jaunt continues Got to Spetsai bar just before 9 pm to ensure a table. About 8 people already there. Demi, short for Dimitra, arrived c. 9.30. Numbers up to 20+. Alexandros late due to art lesson running late. Pupil didn’t want to leave. Somewhat late for lessons? I once had a pupil in Athens, […]
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Thursday, March 17, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Reporting from Greece – interim 3.
Don’t like admitting this but I was ‘stood up’ yesterday for only the second time in my life. First was when in the Sixth Form. Had met a young man at the local Locarno. Arranged to meet the next night but he didn’t turn up. Could have been something to do with slight inebriation. […]
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Monday, March 14, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine – getting in touch from Spetses
Father Christmas brought me a new mobile for Xmas. One of those all singing, dancing ones. I’d previously been using a mobile my grandsons called old-fashioned and I referred to as ‘retro’. It did the business, i.e. could make/receive calls/texts. Even used it on previous visits to Greece, No problem! Had contacted server before departing. […]
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Wednesday, March 9, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: A blog from Greece, March, 2016.
Thought I’d send a few words from sunnier climes. No, not to make people jealous. After all the temperature did drop from 25 to 22 degrees on my first full day here, And today was quite cloudy, with a light breeze. Had to put a long sleeved top on when I went out to take […]
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Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Off To Warmer Climes after completion of People Living With Alzheimers Project
A short piece before I fly off to warmer climes for four weeks. I do have a return ticket this time… Successful End of a Long Haul – Leven Litts Writers of Alexandria, ‘People Living with Alzheimers’ Some thirty stalwarts braved the inclement weather last Tuesday, (2 February, 2016) to attend the final event of […]
Saturday, February 6, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Relaxing at the Carrick Spa
Haven’t been in touch for a while. Have been heavily involved in the Alzheimer project about which I have previously written. We are now close to completion and a final report is in the pipeline. Also been involved with several ongoing minor projects as well as trying to find time to crack on with an […]
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Sunday, January 17, 2016 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene, Travel
Mary Irvine’s blog: A contrast in humility – Donovan and Randy Newman
Donovan, Pavilion Theatre Glasgow 3rd October I am rarely rendered speechless but on Saturday, 3rd October (this year!), at the end of the Donavon Concert at the Pavilion Theatre, I truly was – after watching his finale when he appeared to lip sync as a recording of one of his biggest hits was played. This […]
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Wednesday, November 11, 2015 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Blogging about Greece: Aegina
Hello there,I know it’s been a long time but in mitigation I have been busy over-seeing the production of four books, the creation of a DVD and sets of laminated images for a local project involving material for use with people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.‘Aegina’ was in the ‘to be finished’ box. I understand the majority […]
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Tuesday, June 30, 2015 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene, Writing
Mary Irvine’s latest jaunt to Greece
The Uninvited Guest or The Spectre at the Feast The main purpose for my latest jaunt to Greece was to attend the wedding of Eirene, (Ireenee), an ex-student of mine. I hadn’t actually been invited but decided this was because the inviters probably thought I wouldn’t travel all that way. That’s what I told myself […]
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Monday, June 1, 2015 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Aye Write: A Duo of Debut Authors – Sue Lawrence and Kate Tough review Mary Irvine
A duo of debut authors, Sue Lawrence and Kate Tough. Include the literary agent, Jenny Brown, and the trio was complete for the presentation of ‘Female Friendships in Fiction’. Having worked in the Scottish parliament for some years Kate turned her attention to fiction. Is there a connection there? Her debut novel is ‘Head for […]
Monday, May 4, 2015 | Filed under: Aye Write! Glasgow's Book Festival 2015, Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events, Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s blog: Margaret Harrison 1918 – 2015 Safe with her Saviour.
It was a privilege to have known you, Margaret. My first sight of Margaret was of a physically frail, elderly lady, walking with the aid of a frame, coming through the door of a room at the Community Centre. It was my inaugural visit to the Alexandria’s Writers’ group. I quickly learned, at subsequent meetings, […]
Read the full article: Mary Irvine’s blog: Margaret Harrison 1918 – 2015 Safe with her Saviour.
Thursday, April 23, 2015 | Filed under: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events, Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Aye Write 2015, James Morton – review by Mary Irvine
Did you know that medium eggs weigh c. 55grms? I didn’t but I do now, thanks to the talk given to a large and receptive audience at the Aye Write! festival on Saturday, April 18th by James Morton. James, who qualifies as a doctor this year and was runner-up in the 2012 Great British Bake-off, […]
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Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | Filed under: Aye Write! Glasgow's Book Festival 2015, Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events, Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine blogging about Greek: What Exactly is Love?
I was originally going to speak about the love that dare not speak its name/the Greeks invented it etc and get onto my soapbox. The former phrase comes from the poem ‘Two Loves’ by Lord Alfred Douglas (printed in the Chameleon in 1896) “I am the Love that dare not speak its name.” However, whilst […]
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Sunday, March 22, 2015 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Lottery Funding for Leven Litts Writers’ Group
The Leven Litts Writers’ Group of Alexandria are all smiles this week! Their application for funding from the Awards For All Scotland (Big lottery) has been approved and a sum of just over £6,000 has been deposited in the club account. Stimulating Memory – looking backwards to go forward This money will enable the […]
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Twelfth Night
A slightly belated ‘Ευτυχισμένος ο Καινούριος Χρόνος …’ Memories Have been working on producing a book for the Leven Litts Writers’ group of Alexandria entitled ‘I remember when…’. Many members of the group have written pieces which are very local. However, as regular readers (I know for certain there are now three!) I’m a recent local […]
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Thursday, January 15, 2015 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s Blog: Xmas Overdone.
Several years ago, being appalled at the amount of money I was spending on postage for Xmas cards I resolved that was it. No more. I duly informed people of my decision. Some still send cards, others donate £1 to their local charity and others stopped talking to me. Ok, there were only two but […]
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Thursday, December 11, 2014 | Filed under: Christmas Poems , Stories and Winter Tales, Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Concert Reviews, November 2014
Tony Bennett Eighty-eight years of age! Surely not! I later check and yes, it’s correct. He was born in 1926. I recently attended ‘The Tony Bennett Show’ at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. With not an empty seat anywhere the audience was comprised of the more mature members of society but I did observe […]
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Wednesday, November 26, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s trip to Iona
A Genuine Island Welcome Bishop’s walk was recommended to me by friends. It sounded ideal for my planned three night stay so I rang the owner, Mrs Margaret MacDonald, and made a booking. She did explain the double room I would be in had no sea view. Fine by me. Why anyone would want a […]
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Tuesday, October 21, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene, Travel
Mary Irvine: Post Referendum Musings
Writing: Scottish Politics – The Referendum I am grateful that I was born into and have lived in, for most of my life, a democracy. I believe I have an obligation to exercise my right to vote. People fought, suffered and died for that right. The least I can do is turn up at a […]
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Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene, The Referendum and Scottish Politics
Mary Irvine, Writer’s Blog – Bosnia
International Success Last year I entered an international short story competition with the theme ‘Impossible Dream’. I was pleased when I was short-listed and the story was subsequently translated into Greek and published in an anthology. If you’re interested scroll down and read it – it is in English. Because of the short-listing I was […]
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Monday, October 6, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine: Writer’s blog – Dog sitting, friendship and writing
The Dog-sitting Continues Chip is a delightful if mischievous puppy, now 6 months old. We regularly walk down to the loch early morning which I find therapeutic. There’s something about early morning that is calming. Chip hasn’t quite worked out the rabbits yet. He loves to meet other dogs but doesn’t yet realise that older […]
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Friday, October 3, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s Blog: The End of Summer
Research – good and bad bits! Haven’t written much of late. Have been transcribing tapes of interviews in connection with my biography of Margaret Harrison. I love the interview part and the reading of the transcripts. It’s the bit in the middle I dislike. Wish I could audio-type. Have also been chasing up people who […]
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s latest blog: A Loch Cruise and a Literary Interlude
The Yearly Loch Cruise It was certainly a different Loch Cruise from last year. Same boat – the Astina⃰, same organisers – Ian Baillie of the Lennox Literary Society and the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs⃰, the same musical group – L for Leather⃰ and the same people mostly. A full complement! […]
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Sunday, August 31, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s Blog: Writers’ Meetup West Dunbartonshire
If you don’t try… Three Cornered Meet of Writers The Leven Litts of Alexandria, the Helensburgh Writers’ Workshop and the Clydebank Life Story Group came together at The Artizan Hub, Dumbarton on the evening of June 3rd to share readings from the writers’ latest publications with each other and members of the public. The Vale-ites […]
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Monday, June 30, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine, blogging about Busy Times
Busy Times How time doth pass when you’re having fun! It seems ages since I last wrote anything just for myself but I have been busy nevertheless. I knew I should never have agreed to be the Chairman/woman/person (take your pick) of a second writers’ group – like to please as many as possible. Anyway […]
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Sunday, June 22, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine’s May Blog
Tempus fugit Very busy lately with editing/proofreading/liaising with printer to get the Helensburgh’s souvenir book out in time for the launch on 24th May. Now promised for Monday – or Tuesday…Have also been emailing all Scottish societies throughout the UK offering postal buys – worth a try. Did get out to the Millennium Hall, Gartocharn, […]
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Sunday, May 18, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
Mary Irvine at Aye Write, 2014
Aye Write Festival 2014 First Day Sat 5th April Absolutely mobbed at the Mitchell. (Wo)manly fought my way through, although not everyone acknowledged lady with walking stick needing more room. Avoided usual long queue at ladies’ room by virtue of being able to use the designated toilet for people requiring such a facility. Of course […]
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 | Filed under: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene
