As the rain fell for what seemed like the hundredth day of the school holidays, my Facebook newsfeed filled up with smug status updates: ‘Wellies on – let’s go puddle-jumping!’ ‘Picnic in the rain lol’ Leaving aside the fact that ‘LOL’ should simply never appear in one’s own status update, nothing makes me reach for […]
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Birthdays
It’s my birthday. I’m 36. And for all that I’ve lost; for all that I’ve grieved; for all that I’ve wept, I am suddenly overwhelmed by all that I still have. For the husband who loves me, the children who need me, the friends who send birthday messages by the dozen. For my health, my […]
Riding bareback
A couple of weeks ago the children and I went down to Hayling Island for a return visit to Mill Rythe Holiday Village. We had a sensational time and one of the highlights for the children was the family sports day. The kids loved the traditional sack race, egg and spoon, and welly wanging, and […]
Doing a Prince Harry
Everyone’s up in arms about Prince Harry getting his kit off in a Vegas nightclub. Personally I can’t see what the fuss is about – I’m all in favour of a bit of nudity. In fact, I’m so keen on the idea that last month I stripped off for a nude shoot with Cotswold photographer […]
Wanted: the Time Thief
Parents are warned to be vigilant after UK-wide sightings of the Time Thief reach an all time high in the run up to the start of the school term. Particularly prevalent among communities with a high population of young children, the Time Thief preys on the vulnerable and the needy, stealing time from parents of […]
Where children lie
The churchyard is still and quiet, no matter what time of the year I visit. The church sits squarely in the centre, its heavy oak doors never locked, and few sounds to interrupt those seeking sanctuary. A cobbled path meanders through the churchyard, between ancient chest tombs and gravestones too weather-worn to read. Years ago […]