I learned something about my Number Two daughter the other day, upon asking how her day had gone.Fine, she said.So far, so normal. Monosyllables are the way we roll. I got a baguette, she proffered.Nice, I said, secretly delighted about the number of syllables we were now sharing.Chicken tikka, she Read more
Recently, I have been craving a round table. We used to have a round table. It was in The Shed. It existed there through necessity, and meant that the whole family, plus occasional guests, could sit around it together, elbow to elbow at times, but at a table nevertheless. There Read more
Like so many people, I have always struggled with January. It is a bit shit, is it not? It is cold and muddy and miserable and there are not enough hours in the day. I recall a few weeks back a friend telling me that Blue Monday had passed. Read more
Two days before Christmas, I decided it was time to have a chat with the Four Little Seymours. All of them were, unusually, together; a captive audience as we were driving back from last minute shopping and hospital appointments. The conversation was prompted earlier that day by me realising with Read more
I am definitely in my nostalgia era. I know I have said it before but I will say it again: anecdotes keep throwing themselves my way and reminding me of stuff I haven’t thought about for years. It’s weird – almost as if my life is flashing before my eyes Read more
One of my favourite books as a kid was Burglar Bill, a Janet and Allan Ahlberg classic, with colourful, cosy illustrations and very likeable protagonists.The Ahlberg duo made me – an anxious child – less scared of burglars, and even rather fond of witches, with their relatable and heart-warming little Read more
Full disclosure: I hate the winter! I am a bit of a Grinch, nay a Scrooge, tbh*. But… I am trying to embrace it, and for a while there I was stoic: autumn leaves, golden colours, fresh air, bonfires… Nah. I am over it now. Our reality is freezing bedrooms, pools Read more
Jilly Cooper, woman of the moment, one of my favourite people and all round legend once wrote a book entitled “How to Stay Married”. I must confess, I have not read it. I thought, perhaps naively, that it might be full of recipe ideas, dated seventies references and misogyny. Read more
In an assembly last week (I still go to school, don’t forget) I was staring at a big screen on which was displayed a photograph of ancient deeds dating back to 1614. Our school is old, man! I have seen this slide numerous times in recent years, and as someone Read more
What are these kids doing? Yes, it has happened. I have got old. After years of clinging on to some notion that I may still be “with it”, I must admit defeat. Why? Social fu@#ing media of course. I understand the reason for certain Whatsapp groups. I like some of Read more