I am a Very Cold Person. Not emotionally, you understand, (in fact I’m prone to outbursts more befitting one from a Mediterranean upbringing than the stiff-upper-lipped Home Counties) I’m just always freezing. Perversely I love the winter, when it is totally acceptable to don layer upon layer of knitted garments and wear a hat indoors. […]
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Ballet school
My children all go to ballet on a Saturday morning, where twenty pre-schoolers are (for the most part) quelled by the hypnotic effect of a musical bear. I find the ballet parents as fascinating to watch as the children. Clutching miniature coats and shoes they perch on chairs at the back of the room, mouthing […]
Between Ourselves: the same but different
When someone’s going through a tough time it’s instinctive to empathise. “I know just how you feel”, we say. But do we really? Last week I headed to London to record a programme for Radio 4’s spring series, Between Ourselves. Presented by Olivia O’Leary, the show features discussions between two people who have had similar […]
Doe Ray Me
The first film my husband ever saw at the cinema was Bambi, when he was just four years old. Last weekend I instigated a cosy family viewing of this childhood film. I thought how lovely it would be for him to come full circle and watch it with his children thirty years later. The children […]
Good vibrations
There is a piece of equipment in my gym called the Power Plate. I think it stemmed from a celebrity craze a few years ago, when Madonna appeared at some event looking even more svelte than usual. Women everywhere started installing Power Plates in their living rooms, for the ultimate workout whilst watching Coronation Street. […]
Leap babies: what's it like to be born on February 29th?
My twin daughters were born on February 29th. Once the joyous event had been confirmed (I’d been in labour for over twenty four hours in a delivery suite with no windows – I had absolutely no idea what day it was or what my name was) I was rather pleased with this quirky turn of […]