One of my passions is to connect people. I find there is enormous value in meeting someone who’s been or is in a similar situation to you because the connection is often invaluable. Not always of course, but the ‘getting … Continue reading Divorce Stories
On of my passions is to connect people. I find there is enormous value in meeting someone who’s been or is in a similar situation to you because the connection is often invaluable. Not always of course, but the ‘getting … Continue reading Divorce Stories
I – apparently and unsurprisingly – learnt to talk at a very early age. I was speaking in sentences before I was 2, and I haven’t stopped since. But with these two tiny words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’, I shift … Continue reading Learning to say ‘yes’
There is a song in the musical Avenue Q* that goes like this… “When I was little, I thought I would be, a big comedian on late night TV. But now I’m 32, and as you can see – I’m … Continue reading Non-Mother’s Day
January: the fresh, clean pages of the 2018 diary and a highly unnecessary amount of new stationary speak ‘new year’ to me. There’s a myriad of coloured pens – until I forget which one I was using for which category … Continue reading Processing 2017
I’m late to the party. Incredibly late. The many protestations of ‘oh but you’ll love it’ didn’t move me, until I watched Episode 1 of The Crown and, lo and behold, I did indeed ‘love it’. Six episodes in (not … Continue reading Divorce, The Crown and an engagement
One of the very painful things around divorce and separation is knowing and working out how to survive Christmas when you feel alone. Being in an unknown world, often devastated by loss regardless of whether it was something you chose … Continue reading Christmas and Divorce
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Who Do You Think You Are is on TV again. I love a good family history story regardless of whether I’m related to the protagonists or not, especially if I can watch … Continue reading Royal Connections: The Family Tree
If you had told me five years ago what my life would like today I would likely not have believed you. If you had told me I’d be as happy as I am, I would have laughed. Tomorrow I turn … Continue reading Turning 30
‘How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’ I’ve heard it said that people really knew what it was like to see God as a father when they had their … Continue reading Fathers
Sunglasses and an oversized sun hat? Check! Flip flops on and several books tucked under my arm? Check! Covered from head to toe in factor 50? Check! Somehow I think this isn’t quite what the advert has in mind… Bombarded by … Continue reading Are you beach body ready?
Hands up, who else sang this in their head with an extended ‘s’, a la The Jungle Book’s Kaa? I’m glad it’s not just me. Trust. Putting our faith in something. Maybe it’s a logical decision, maybe it’s based on … Continue reading Trust in me…
Have you ever seen Four Weddings and a Funeral? Despite my best (and relatively successful) efforts to curb my non-praiseworthy ability to swear like a sailor, my Saturday morning began with two very clearly enunciated profanities. The channeling of my inner Hugh Grant was due to the fact I’d woken up at 7.29am. Hardly a hardship I know, in fact I am sure many friends, particularly parents, would be only too delighted to be awoken at this reasonable hour. My own problem with the situation was that my carefully researched, non-transferable-this-train-only train had left Euston at 7.23am; a winning start … Continue reading Lessons in a terrible attitude and alarm clocks
It’s been a month since Holocaust Memorial Day. Possibly you hadn’t noticed it back in January, and now wonder why I didn’t post this then. An extremely valid question to which the only answer is that I’d written about three … Continue reading Would You Stand By? Don’t Stand By ~ Holocaust Memorial Day 2016
I wondered if I should take a photo. Whether I should encapsulate this moment in case I want to look back. The last time I saw that view, at that time. The last time I walked that pathway, crossing at exactly the same place. The last time I slept in that bed, relaxed in that bath, unlocked that front door. But what does the photo tell me? Better a picture of the worn out carpet where feet have trod in and out. A chair a friend sits in on every visit. A mug that was bought for that one particular … Continue reading The Last Time
Yes I do realise I’m five years behind, but bear with me. In clearing out the other day I found my resolutions from 2011…it was an interesting read and point of reflection. There were a couple of resolutions relating to … Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions of 2011
I recently wrote for Threads on the times in your life when that summer of the soul is more like a storm and borrowed Helen Russell’s idea of ‘hygge’. This is a Danish concept that denotes a cosy environs of home, friends and family. To my mind a hygge space is dimly lit and warm. I would recommend Helen’s book for both learning more about Danish culture, and for laughter, it was an anthropological book that I couldn’t put down. The fact I’m inherently nosey and love to read about people probably helped. This cosy comfort can be an elusive … Continue reading Muppet Christmas Carol: the summer of the soul in December
Elf is one of my Christmas highlights. It’s the film I put on first and the one I quote most often. I subscribe to eating the four main food groups; sugar, candy corn, candy cane and candy. I mean, it … Continue reading What Elf teaches me about being a Christian
I have skipped – probably literally – through the last year or so, enjoying the garden of cavalier disregard for adulthood and embracing every opportunity that has come my way. I have been enjoying my job, living with my housemate, … Continue reading The Garden of Cavalier Disregard and the Three-headed Giant
I still remember exactly what was said on the day. I still remember the sensation of having something beautifully alien on my finger, catching the light, and wondering whether or not you were supposed to leave it on while you slept. I still remember the jolt of panic when I couldn’t feel the rings on my finger, looking down horrified I’d lost a treasured possession. I still remember recalling sadly that I had deliberately taken it off. I still remember realising that the indent on my finger had finally disappeared. I’ve finally got used to wearing a combinations of charity shop … Continue reading Divorce: Rules of Engagement Rings
the entirety of life 