Walking the dogs with my sister she is telling me about a novel called "Lockdown" which paints a significantly gloomier picture than the one Omicron is currently treating us to. "I really hate this time of year," she says, echoing the lyrics of one of my favourite recent Christmas songs, "Home … [Read more...] about Same Old Christmas Songs
Loss
The End Of Summer
On an unseasonably autumnal August Bank Holiday I am celebrating my birthday by sitting in the queue at a drive-in McDonalds, determined to have cheap ice cream. My daughter and her boyfriend are in the car in front, and my son and his girlfriend are in front of them. A text comes through from … [Read more...] about The End Of Summer
Handling Disruption
One of the jobs I do is write answers to random questions posed by people who are struggling with some aspect of their mental health. Mostly they write asking for advice about their anxiety, how to overcome imposter syndrome, or why they might have an inability to focus on their … [Read more...] about Handling Disruption
Senses Of Endings
Alone together on a Friday night, I wonder what I can put on the TV that will keep my daughter engaged with me and away from her phone. In a stroke of genius, I go for "Friends: The Reunion" combining my past with her present. We used to watch Friends before we had children, before we were … [Read more...] about Senses Of Endings
The Return of the Night-Time Economy
My son went back into his office this week for the first time in many months. "Have you got everything?" Peering into his bag, "Rail pass, laptop charger, wallet, I think so." "Passport?" He seemed genuinely excited like he was going on holiday. The children have been sanguine about … [Read more...] about The Return of the Night-Time Economy