Sept. 2025 I’ll be starting the MAWYP at Bath Spa University: Masters in Writing for Young People (Online International Program).

BTW:

1. As you know, Bath Spa University is in Bath, UK, a city renowned for hot springs fashioned into ‘baths’ by the Romans, throughout time becoming a popular restorative destination, these days a tourist destination.

2. Read Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’. My favorite film version is the one with Ciaron Hinds/Amanda Root. Then the brilliant Sally Hawkins’ version and then Dakota Johnson’s–a modern take I just can’t stomp all over because Bill Nighy is charming and DJ does an engaging balancing act between frustrated/wry and quippy/lovestruck…

Anyway, Bath.

3. I spent 4 years in North Oxford when I was a kid which included multiple family tours of Bath’s stinky, murk-green pools–perfect imagination fodder. The first tour I so wanted to jump in the baths and see what happened (I’ve always been a good swimmer). My mother had to grip my hand and my father made sure I was aware of his scary-scowly-face-just-for-children until we left the area.

4. 2007: I honeymooned in Bath. We did the stinky tour I’d done as a child. I did not want to jump in the water: I was 12 weeks along. I hugged the Jane Austen mannikin instead at the historic building, still quietly teary as we wandered cobbles and obeyed my hormones bakery to bakery. I wanted to move to Bath and maybe I still do. Especially now.

5. My soul sister lives near Bath, in Bradford-on-Avon. Bradford is Bath’s charming cousin, or charming auntie: canal walks, a little loch and fairy lights twinkling in pubs and the imagination fodder part just goes on and on.

6. That honeymoon I mentioned? We were invited for supper at a home in Box, also near Bath. The house was stone, old, vaguely modernized inside. The bathroom we were shown as part of the hosts’ tour had been decorated by a previous owner who I believe was a ’70’s rockstar. Barbed wire, graffiti and fish sculptures somehow? If I looked down at the floor, I saw the 1st story below through gaps in the painted boards. Or something like that. Our hosts were hip, gracious and parents: 2 small children, 2 nannies. I devoured everything I was served. Especially dessert.

6. Bath is beautiful–even in the rain.

Grateful for online studies offered by excellent schools. Cor it’s teatime!

Cheers,

PB

A history-bit of Bath Spa U:

The Newton Park and Sion Hill campuses began as teacher training institutions in the 1940s. Newton Park’s Main House, built for Joseph Langton from 1762-1765 set in Capability Brown gardens and leased from the Prince of Wales, is Grade 1 listed.

I think Capability Brown is the name of my next goldfish.