January 2024! By gosh, that feels very futuristic. Like a movie set in space, or a story by George Orwell. But no. Here we are, two thousand and twenty four years after the birth of Little Baby Jesus, or thereabouts, and we humans are still f@cking up our planet and Read more
Yesterday, my brother presented me with a copy of Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive. In handing it over, he gave a brief description of its general theme (the author suffered with his mental health) and then caveat-ed his verbal blurb with a dismissal: “But I’m not saying that you Read more
Little Seymour Number One is now nineteen. She has completed a year at university and made wonderful friends, fully embracing all the changes that have been hurled her way. She’s adapted to leaving home, starting a degree and being self-sufficient. She is a proper adult now. In contrast to her Read more
I want to correct something from my last post… It has been on my mind. I have started my new job this week. And – whilst I may have suggested I am “supremely overqualified” for it (how pompous!) I am by no means an expert in this field of learning Read more
I hate selling houses. It seems like a good idea at the time and then – BOOM! Your home isn’t your own, the slightest scratch or dent in the paintwork is punishable by crucifixion and the hamster, who normally has the run of a large tank, is confined to smaller, Read more
My aunt died in August. I loved her a lot. She was unconventional, kind and not hindered by the unofficial laws of social norms. She was beautiful, my aunt. Totally beautiful to me. As a child, I was drawn to her. She was interesting to be with. Always forgiving. Ever Read more
The title of this latest musing leaves me feeling a bit uncomfortable. I’d like to think I am a writer, I would like to make a living as a writer, I dream of turning into a proper writer and of being at dinner parties where, when that dreadful, universal question Read more
There is a grave in our garden. In it, I have buried Oritse (of JLS fame)’s head, his bowler hat, a few limbs, a car or two and many, many bits of plastic tat. OK, so it’s not really a grave. It is a chasm. A pit. A hole, really. Read more
Boris, please! I know you have a gargantuan task ahead. I do. I don’t envy your responsibilities right now, I don’t. But seriously now. Seriously. Be brave. Let us out. I swear to God, this LOCKDOWN is killing us. Our teenagers, our little ones, our cancer patients, our mentally vulnerable. Read more
In April, during Lockdown Mark One, I got very excited about going to Tesco. I tried and tried to get a delivery slot, but COULD NOT. So I braved the store. And spent a fortune. Week on week, I ventured out, mainly alone, to hunt and to gather. I bought Read more