When I was young, I hated New Year’s — the whole shebang, beginning with New Year’s Eve. The forced gaiety. The pressure to be happy! It was all so depressing. The worst part was that if I didn’t have a date for New Year’s Eve, it cast a pall on the next twelve months. more »

In a 1958 BBC Home Service broadcast, listeners hear Fleming and fellow ex-journalist and famed mystery author Raymond Chandler — pioneer of the modern private detective story and creator of protagonist Philip Marlowe, later played by Humphrey Bogart — discussing the ingredients which make up the perfect thriller.A 1995 Radio 4 Woman's Hour discussion considers the changing role of the Bond girl within the films. more »

Christmas at our house is nothing if not traditional. The decorations and timing of our Yuletide celebrations almost never vary, referred to as "the same old Christmas;" same, that is, except for those years when fate takes a hand. more »

The Decorating Guide intersperses background information with clear instructions on such household projects as installing molding, replacing a towel bar, tiling a backsplash, hanging bifold doors, creating faux finishes, or reupholstering a chair. Outdoor Building projects include making patios, walkways, and decks; fences and walls; arbors, sheds, outbuildings, and porches; and — perfect for grandkids — treehouses and play structures more »