Mathew's Blog

My grandmother, of course, had no experience of blogs, but I think she might well have approved of them because they provide a great opportunity for listening. She was herself, without exception, the best listener I have ever known – one of the reasons maybe why she was able to write so many excellent books. For myself, I shall try to learn from her example and listen very carefully as the blog develops, and occasionally contribute myself.

In the meantime, happy blogging!

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The Guessing Game

by Mathew

I thought you might be entertained by this little bit of family history.

I remember the year when Nima read us a chapter or two of A Pocket Full of Rye after dinner each night.  It must have been 1953 and I can remember the game as if it were yesterday.  All the family sitting round the drawing-room at Greenway, coffee cups empty on the tray, a little cigar smoke rising from my grandfather's cigar, mauve chintzy covers set on the chairs and a piano in the corner of the room.  Nima sat in a deep chair with a ...

• Posted 28 Sep 09 at 7:32a.m. GMT
• 31 comments

Spider's Web

by Mathew

Many years ago, when I was appointed Chairman of the Welsh Arts Council, I was asked what I would most like to achieve during my term of office.  I replied that I would like to make it possible for every child in Wales to attend a live performance in the theatre at least once before they were 16.  I was greeted with amazement!

I was reminded of this last week when Lucy and I attended an early performance of the Agatha Christie Theatre Company's production of Spider's Web.  Perfect it was not, but the theatre in Windsor was ...

• Posted 22 Jan 09 at 4:09p.m. GMT
• 20 comments

Travel and Archaeology

by Mathew

Recently, I have reread two short pieces I wrote about Agatha Christie and Travel, and Agatha Christie and Archaeology.  When I had finished, I made two mental notes - first to reread Death Comes As The End, and second to travel more myself....

If you would like to read the articles, please click on the links above!

• Posted 26 Nov 08 at 5:08p.m. GMT
• 8 comments

My Grandmother

by Mathew

Before writing this I have read through your replies to my last blog.  Quote, “Hi Mathew, Could you please tell me about your grandmother....”  Well, Malou, how long have you got?

The feelings that remain uppermost in my mind at the end of October, 2008 are how different she was to so much that is going on around us now.  No cheap, sensationalist, lewd or self-serving entertainment for her.  Good solid hard-work, good solid entertainment, modesty, self-effacement, love and respect for family and decency, respect for country and professionalism allied to a huge sense of fun and enjoyment.  I think ...

• Posted 03 Nov 08 at 10:23a.m. GMT
• 14 comments

Greenway reopening 2009

by Mathew

If you were to ask me what I thought was the most important Agatha Christie thing that was going to happen in the next year, I would say the reopening of Greenway, Nima’s [my grandmother's] lovely house in Devon, now owned by the National Trust.  To me, Greenway means all kinds of childhood things – cricket on the lawn, a loving family, cream teas which Nima drank from a mug called Don’t Be Greedy (an admonition she never obeyed) and watching the Dart steamers steam past with her in the boathouse (read Dead Man’s Folly).

For you ...

• Posted 17 Sep 08 at 9:19a.m. GMT
• 23 comments