About Jane
Words
Adores words and language. Reads books by authors who appreciate words for their own sake, and use them in fresh combinations. Arundhati Roy, Anita Desai, Anne Michaels, Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, David Crystal."Rahel's new teeth were waiting inside her gums like words in a pen" (The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy)
"From wooden cages, chickens stared with a look of snobby incomprehension, as though they were the only ones who understood English and therefore couldn't make out the babble around them." (Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels)
Earliest memories include bedtime word games with her father. He offered her half a crown at the age of seven to spell "hypochondriac". What address is this?
Wood
John
Hants
Does crosswords on journeys, at bed time, over Sunday breakfast... whenever there is one that hasn't been done. Has no time for sudoku.
Would like to have a tidy desk but doesn't like tidying it.
Pictures
Enjoys taking photographs of local places at different times of day, but getting good pictures of birds in wild places is the real challenge. Jane took all the pictures on this site and is gradually becoming more attached to her Canon 400D.
Music
Plays the fiddle (that's a violin used for traditional tunes rather than Beethoven). Loves playing with friends, learning tunes by ear, joining in sessions in pubs, hopes to accompany Morris dancers soon. Learnt most of what she knows from Pete Cooper.
Travel
Has a great affinity with small islands and is very fond of Westray, Islay, Skokholm, La Gomera and the Galapagos. These go with photography, walking in wild places and meeting people who don't lock their cars. Two children who live anywhere as long as it is not in the UK also influence choice of places. New York and Zaragoza recently.
Cats
She has three. A little Tabby girl called Isis who as independent and dignified as most cats and has the most beautiful spotted tummy if she'll let you see it. Taff is a ginger and white half Burmese. Big, clumsy and lovable - more like a dog sometimes. He needs people and comes running up for a hug all muddy from the rain. Hudson is his tortoiseshell sister, tiny and very nervous but curls up on a lap if the time is just right for her. If your geography is good you may have noticed the river theme. Oxford, Cardiff and New York.