News and Reviews

Newsletter

MARCH - 2026

Hi

I hope this finds you fit and in good health.

Last year at this time in my Newsletter I shared with you my thoughts - and sadness - regarding a floral treat in our village of Simister which occurs each Spring. This is hidden away on the edge of the village close to the M66 motorway just north of Simister Island. Tucked away close to a little-used footpath under some ageing, ragged trees, the season yields an amazing carpet of snowdrops followed a few weeks later by a lush spread of daffodils.

The above is just one small area as it's impossible to capture the full panoramic impact, and It's easy to understand how such a similar display could inspire William Wordsworth, so with apologies to him ...

Daffodils

by Michael Knaggs

I wandered - boots and anorak -

O'er Egypt Lane the other day. 

And turning left on muddy track

Came soon upon the motorway

Where 'neath the trees fair Nature blooms

In brave defiance of the fumes.

 I have always felt it is such a shame that hardly anyone ever sees this burst of colour, but every year, nature puts on a truly magnificent show. Or should I say, used to put it on ..., because with a major motorway junction development just about to start, the scene is somewhat different now.

And i reckon the book wins hands down, as follows:-

Hard to believe but this is taken from exactly the same place. Clearly you can't hold up a major project like this, which will involve moving the congestion around the junction about a hundred metres or so further north - just for the sake of a few wild flowers, but sad all the same and it robs me of my favourite forerunner of Spring each year.

Otherwise, for me, March has been a very positive month, with three book signings at T G Jones stores in Altrincham, Beverley and the Trafford Centre. All very successful, meeting with a mixture of old (as in 'existing') and new readers. Every sale is welcome, of course, but just as pleasing is someone making the effort to drop by to say how much they enjoyed the book. 

Later in the month - on the 27th - I gave a talk to the Crimetime reading group at Urmston Library and on the following day - Saturday 28th - at Stretford library as part of Stretfest, the annual Stretford festival . A great privilege to be invited to participate. As always, I enjoyed both events - Cariol says it's down to a lifelong fascination with the sound of my own voice. Well, I resent that!, although I don't deny it.

April will be a lot less busy on the book front, with only one signing arranged. That is for tomorrow, Saturday 4 April, at the Costa Cafe in the Tesco Superstore in Prestwich. Profits from the book sales will be donated to the Costa Foundation, which supports a whole range of charities, many of them children's. I always enjoy this venue; it is, in effect, my 'home fixture',  just a couple of miles from where I live. I'll be there signing copies of The Moorstone from 10.00 a.m. until around 4.00 p.m. or until they run out of lemon drizzle muffins, whichever is the sooner. So if you're around and you fancy a book and/or a chat, then please call in. And a big thank you to the manager, Frankie, for inviting me back. 

The reason for the lack of book activity is due to our taking the first of our two annual fortnight holidays on the Isle of Skye, visiting my brother. It's a truly beautiful  place. This is Carol, training to be a shepherdess, in a field on the way down to the bay just a few hundred metres from the cottage. (She passed, by the way)

Not everybody's idea of a perfect holiday location, but you do save on suncream. Although this saving is fully offset by the need for midge repellent! Stand by - and be forewarned - for a few more dramatic landscapes with May's Newsletter..

In the meantime, stay safe and well 

With best regards

Michael

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