Have you ever done something you’re really ashamed of? I’m not talking heinous crimes here, so if you’re reading this from HM Prison Holloway please log off and find something more educational to do. I mean something which seemed funny at the time, but now you’re really quite embarrassed about? During my degree I worked […]
The alcoholic at the checkout
At eight o’clock this morning I resolved to make chicken pot roast in my new slow cooker. I was missing a single crucial ingredient and rather than compromise on taste, I decided to pop out to the shops right away. No matter that I wasn’t yet dressed – tracksuit bottoms pulled over pyjamas to beat […]
Excuse me, where will I find the gnocci?
The Budget Supermarket lies on the outskirts of the nearest town, where slack-mouthed youths swim around a gene pool so small there are no room for outsiders. We haven’t been before, but the decision to become a better parent by switching careers has not come without sacrifices. We’ve abandoned the luxuries (raincoats, days out, school […]
Postcard from Croatia
Should going away without the children feel this good? Today I have gone to the loo without someone sitting on my lap. I have had conversations without breaking off to respond to an infant interrogator. I have reached the bottom of a cup of coffee and found it still hot. In short, I have […]
Housekeeping ruses
My husband thinks I have started doing more around the house. He’s wrong. It’s just that I’ve discovered something about him – he’s easily fooled. A few weeks ago I bought some rather expensive, rather lovely room fragrance (the middle classes don’t have air fresheners, they have room fragrance) and have been sparing with its usage […]
Beer guts, bigotry and bulldog tattoos
There’s nothing quite like spontaneous trips away from home. The excitement, the anticipation, the lack of time to actually pack the things you need… I did quite well really; I remembered drinks, I packed wellies and waterproofs, sun cream and sandwiches. I even brought the camera. We had an incredible day. The sort of day […]