The Vaucluse is the most beautiful place on earth. Well, perhaps not THE most beautiful. Cappodocia, Turkey probably is….then there’s Holy Island. Well, alright, there are quite a few beautiful place on earth and the Vaucluse is one of them. … Continue reading From there to here…
The old man leans on the gate at the edge of the park. It is heavier than he remembers but then so are most things. Like his own stomach and the bag of weekly shopping. He sighs. If only he … Continue reading Waiting for Dad
“…If you listen carefully, the earth is singing.” I swung round sharply. The two girls nearly crashed into me, their hands cradling petri-dishes filled with wood lice, ants and a fat snail with a shell crisis. I had one of … Continue reading The eye (and ear) of the beholder
The narrow blades knifing through earth showed no hint of bloom. Carly watched them, remembering the promise on the pack, Plant now, blooms for Mothers Day. She watered the pot before school, all anxious-eyed and pajama-ed, curtain of hair swinging onto cheeks … Continue reading Other Mothers and the Kindness of Spring – Short Fiction for Mothers Day
Sleep mode – the pc stays on but uses low power. Apps stay open so when the pc wakes up, you’re instantly back to where you left off. When I was younger, I could sleep anywhere. I’ve spent nights on … Continue reading Sleep mode
I refuse to believe you get fussier as you get older more experienced (we’ve banned the “o” word in our house due to occasional bouts of melancholy). I mean it’s true that answering the question, “Can I get you a cup of … Continue reading Tea and Other Transforming Things
We’re climbing the Malvern Hills, and I’m wheezing like a catfish. I briefly consider whether dropping dead on a narrow path between trees in sight of the summit, is a good way to go. An action exit, so to speak, … Continue reading Hills and giving thanks on All Hallows Eve
So it wasn’t the best weather, and it wasn’t the best place. The windscreen wipers squeaked double-time all the way there and there was rain on and off all week. It was cold. The upstairs shower didn’t work and the … Continue reading A lifetime of holidays and I’m still learning…
I am one of those people who sometimes puts things down and can’t find them again – lesson plans, cheques, small children. I once left my son in the meat aisle in a supermarket while I popped round the corner … Continue reading Things I’ve lost and the art of growing down
It’s Bank Holiday Monday. As we wander round the shop, alongside people in shorts with trolleys of plants and barbecues, and kids clutching garden toys, my husband whispers, “The older I get, the more I think we’re not like most … Continue reading The Humble Transistor – how to shed forty years.
