Top of my to-do list today was to find a rat-catcher. I imagined a wiry, old fellow; a moustache stained with nicotine and a length of string tied around each trouser-leg. A tweed jacket, its pockets stuffed with unidentifiable essentials, and without doubt some sort of cap. His accent would be pure Cotswolds, although words […]
Pregnant Party Tricks
When I was six months pregnant with twins, my son was coming up to a year old and on the cusp of walking unaided. Although confident standing on his two chubby legs, he still needed a comforting steer before he would put one foot in front of the other. We were at a first birthday […]
Happy sort of birthday
The girls turned five today. Sort of. Without a date on which to hang celebrations, birthdays become nebulous affairs which last a week. That’s no bad thing, in my book. This time last year we were in London, preparing to celebrate their first proper birthday on the BBC Breakfast sofa, so this morning Evie asked […]
Why do old people get up so early?
For years I have wondered why old people got up so early. I mean, here we all are, slogging our guts out doing jobs we hate, raising families, doing chores, desperate for a break. Aren’t we all secretly looking forward to retirement? The chance to stay in bed till noon, watching Homes under the Hammer […]
The Big Detox
I am detoxing. I’m on day two of a seven-day programme which involves nothing but juices and lots of exercise. It sounds hideous, but I’m rather enjoying it. This morning I ran 5k on nothing but hot water and lemon, and returned home to a glass of juice which looked like sewage but tasted like […]
In which I spend Valentine's Day in three countries.
I have spent Valentine’s Day at three different airports. On my own. There are worse ways to spend Valentine’s Day, and in fact I rather enjoyed it. When you’re not in a hurry – and once you’ve missed a meeting there’s little point in rushing – airports are second only to train-station platforms for people-watching. […]