Julia Moore was born in the post-war commuter belt of South London - her father worked in the City. She had the best of both town and country life, as the family spent almost all school holidays in the West Country, where both Julia's parents had family origins.

The Riviera Woman welcomes Julia as Contributing Editor. We thought it was only right to invite her to tell us a little more about herself, her career and points of view. Julia will always be happy to hear from you, so do contact her at julia@therivierawoman.com

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"I would say my working life has taken 3 distinct paths - I have, in one way or other, been involved in education in all 3 - teaching politics, economics, post-university, then teaching law after studying for the Bar in my late 30s. The most creative phases, however, were pre-university and during my freelance years - early-40s. The earliest was pure serendipity - a series of gap-year assignments in the old Fleet Street series of journals. My longest post was at New Society magazine, where I assisted various Editors and contributing writers in the weekly production of this highly influential social policy/social science journal. At the time, some of the highest profile ‘movers and shakers’ would pop into the office with their copy. Not appreciating it at the time, I worked alongside  the best academic writers, and talented illustrators, many of which are daily names we see in the broadsheets and e-press. Then, later, during a 2-year freelance phase  I ran  many education-related assignments. Again, I had huge luck -  ‘right place, right time’ - to work with a group of talented musicians on a pro-amateur African music project. The Mbawula band inspired 100s of school-age and adult choirs in the UK.

One of my dearest pals is Nicoise, whom I met on my first post-university job. She would return to Nice to spend summer holidays with her mother and kindly invited me to stay too - that was in 1988, so my association with the Cote d’Azur is soon to hit 30 years!

Point of view on life?...phew….It’s a short, bizarre and mostly bewildering existence. Making people feel safe and secure seems to bring more benefits to communities than making them scared. I’ve travelled extensively, worked alongside and visited many cultures and common patterns seem to exist; parents have a life-long anxiety regarding their children (London or Bangalore), individuals strive to improve their lives, not deteriorate them, and will sacrifice anything, including themselves, in the process. The creative arts- writing, music can powerfully communicate across communities, rise above language and improve well-being, be it in a South African township, a Parisian suburb or a rural, isolated school in Tamil Nadhu. Emphasizing what we have in common, rather than what divides us, globally, seems a useful way of spending the time!

Likes...that’s the easy bit….as said before, aside from immediate family (partner and step-sons), I value time spent with my friends more each day. Time is the only resource over which we have no control, so use it to good end..."

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We asked Julia our famous 5 questions and here is what she said...

What makes you smile?

1) Apart from wonderful partner and step-sons - Morecambe and Wise, especially the Andre Previn sketch, which has amused me for 40 years and will always do so..

What or who inspires you?

2)The ability of individuals to survive any horrendous, unthinkable traumas - from the mass migrations we are seeing at the moment, to communities living in appalling conditions/slums and shanty towns in emerging nations.

Do you believe in gut instincts?

3) 'gut instinct' is now given the scientific status of 'emotional intelligence' and yes, the more we learn about the connection between memory and emotion - from dementia sufferers, for example, we are slowly recognizing that our bi-feedback systems are valid aspects of our lives and we should learn to 'read' them.

Your three essential things if you were stuck on a desert island would be what?

4) Desert Island stuff- 1= radio (tuned to different stations for different things), 2=my top 10 collection of books to re-read, and 3=Writing paper and pens - what an opportunity to document everything and anything?

If you were planning a day/night out, what do you enjoy doing most?

5) Anything with close friends, rather than 'an event', although anything in a theatre, especially Shakespeare will do. So, a production of Hamlet or Othello, with close friends would be perfect!!!!