Ellen Rugen

Poems gleaned over and reflecting a lifetime's interest in the use of words and imagery. A child's view of a postwar childhood, leading to experiments and experiences. as an adult and early old age in some serenity

A small memoir which prioritises the female line of my mother's Jewish family history. The past is dead but comes alive in my present life, through stories choices and travels.

Hoping not to retire at 60, Ellen buys a house in South West France with views of the Pyrenees. Living on a shoestring, she describes the day to day dilemmas of life as a second homer, with an aged cat. A tantalizing picture is painted of a world where spin is not yet King and traditional values linger on in a community close to the earth beneath vibrant skies. Delightfully frank about her feelings, she describes how a sense of deep belonging blends in with a sense of loss and separation in a way which is ultimately healing. Not a 'how to do it manual' exactly yet an entertaining guide for anyone who shares a similar dream.