The Street

Christmas came early that year but the street didn't mind, stretching out joyous arms in welcome. It began in October when shops shrugged off their orange clothes for Remembrance Red. The street approved. It liked its small-town displays of poppies. November brought frost and incipient hope. The shops were lit with tinsel and coloured lights. … Continue reading The Street

If only we were perfect…

I've been helping a young friend apply for jobs. He's filled in forms and I've edited - popping in commas, chopping words, suggesting small changes. I've quite enjoyed it. Once I managed to meet the word count by cutting 110 words! Those years parsing in English lessons are finally paying off. But what's struck me … Continue reading If only we were perfect…

Wonder

I'm trying to be a better person - kinder, more patient, a healthy eater. I want to be the sort of person who exercises and enjoys it, carries a water bottle, and drinks it. It's not going well. The thing is, at this time of year there's Mothers Day, then my birthday, then my husband's … Continue reading Wonder

Mountains

At the top of Sulphur Mountain, Banff A big, pointy thing which goes up high right in front of you and is hard to get round. Sometimes has snow. This is how someone described a mountain in one of those word games at Christmas. Bearing in mind there was wine and a time limit, I … Continue reading Mountains

When I grow up…

Last Saturday, we went to London to see Matilda. My husband was particularly keen, as our daughter has been playing him the My Big Telly song for years. He adores it. I wasn't that sure to be honest. There are so many other plays I want to see and, having read the book to children … Continue reading When I grow up…

How happy is yours so far?

'Happy New Year.' It's probably time to stop saying it now, but we still do, particularly if we're seeing someone for the first time this year. Then they say it back to us because they don't want us to think that they don't want us to be happy. I'm not sure when we stop saying … Continue reading How happy is yours so far?

Living to please?

'I am a textbook people-pleaser. You can't trust me. I probably need help.' This is my (slightly adapted) favourite quote so far from a series my daughter introduced me to recently. She had been telling me about it for ages, to the point where I agreed to watch a couple of episodes just to stop … Continue reading Living to please?

Look up

Dad loved Christmas. His eyes would go all shiny and bright as he recounted stories of his youth, how he and his brothers would choose a Christmas tree, cut it down and drag it home by sledge through the snow. We never knew how true this actually was. As with many of Dad's stories, it … Continue reading Look up

The lighthouse

Once upon a time, many moons ago, when the earth was young, a lighthouse rose tall and strong near cliffs surrounded by rocks. The rocks were large and sharp as jagged teeth. They guarded a narrow channel through choppy and dangerous waters. But beyond the channel, on the far horizon, was an eternal city, high … Continue reading The lighthouse

Falling off the edge

So I had a bit of an episode. I lost my diary. I keep all my passwords in there - well, obviously not my actual passwords (I'm not stupid. At least, not in that way) but the clues to them. Like you, I have many passwords and without the clues, I'm helpless. My husband keeps … Continue reading Falling off the edge