Coming in from sweeping the leaves and musing on one of the few benefits of lockdown, a distinct decline in takeaway wrappers tossed over the front wall, I say, to nobody in particular, "Why do so many houses along here still have their Christmas lights up?" My daughter is hunched over her … [Read more...] about Resetting The Passwords
Gratitude
We’re Lucky To Be Alive
It's New Year's Day and we're watching "Dunkirk" a film so full of dramatic trauma that, midway through, I have to go off to the toilet and look at the latest COVID figures on my phone for light relief. Often it's been hard to see the benefits of a year most people are happy to turn their back on … [Read more...] about We’re Lucky To Be Alive
Finding Comfort Where We Can
I'm looking at a Venn diagram entitled, "Am I Overthinking This?" drawn by artist Michelle Rial and it's providing a welcome distraction from trying to work out if we need an extra bottle of milk in the shopping. I've been saying for months that doing food shopping online is not only safer but … [Read more...] about Finding Comfort Where We Can
Searching For The Festive Spirit
One of the best things about lockdown is that I don't have to go into shops, and not going into shops means that I haven't had to listen to Mariah Carey singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You" incessantly while people push their way past one another buying cheap cologne and a Cadbury's selection … [Read more...] about Searching For The Festive Spirit
After The Beginning, Before The End.
I'm walking the dog with my daughter realising it's muddier than we'd thought and talking Christmas puddings. "Why do you make two every year?" she asks "So that we have a spare" "For what? An unexpected Christmas?" I do it because my mother did it. Every year there is one pudding … [Read more...] about After The Beginning, Before The End.