In my time as mother to four secondary school students, I’ve written and received emails with such high frequency (my children being the subjects of these in various heart-sinking ways), that I’ve had to be creative in order to avoid boring both myself and the kids’ schools. When emails have led to meetings, I’ve tried … More Blooming late on exam day
When I was a young child, my parents used to take us kids with them when they went to friends for dinner. This was a win-win. They didn’t have to pay for a babysitter, and my brothers and I got to stay up late listening to the grown-ups downstairs getting louder and louder until there was a sudden stop – … More Headlights in the Treetops
Yesterday, I did something I’ve never done before. I went to the cinema in the afternoon, on my own. At least I can’t remember having done this before, but now a vague memory is whispering that this is not true and that many years ago, when I lived in Mainz in Germany, I fled a … More Alcarràs
On watching The Humans with my humans. (A movie by Stephen Karam that centres on the gathering of what some have called a ‘dysfunctional family’ was likely to contain elements that would hit home.) Six members of a multi-generational family gather together in Chinatown, Manhattan, at the newly acquired duplex of the youngest (adult) daughter, … More The Humans
I asked my friend, Fitta, to give me a proverb. I’ve been hunting for proverbs in books, magazines and online. I’ve consulted sugar sachets from Spain; I’ve discovered the wisdoms of the Akans; and I’ve learned that these clever turns of phrase which express universal truths may not themselves be universal. My recent interest in … More Milestone Words
The first thing anyone said to me one morning recently was: “He never listens to a word I say.”
‘He’ was the speaker’s dog. The speaker was a young woman, instructing her dog to cross the road, but he was too busy sitting on the pavement watching the world go by. The young woman had headphones on, and I wondered if the dog was trying to make a point. … More Extreme listening
Perhaps it started with Sister Laurie at St Joseph’s School in North Battleford, right in the middle of the Canadian prairies. Sister Laurie was petite and neat and the gentlest soul. When I was six and the new girl from the Old World, she was my teacher. She welcomed me into her classroom and nobody … More (Bewitched by) Nuns
My son offered me a coffee this morning; he likes to make it strong. I accepted, knowing what I might be letting myself in for. Half-way down my mugful, I realised that it was stronger than strong. I carried on drinking, wondering if this was a sensible thing to do. I drank down to the … More Coffee Strength
I was brought up to be superstitious. I was also taught not to believe everything I was taught, which leaves me in the fortunate position of being able to pick and choose my charms. Such as blowing an eyelash and making a wish, or seeing the joy in two magpies. However, leaving a dropped knife … More Luck Under the Bridge
I began a Christmas post earlier this month. I decided to abandon it when my daughter was arguing with me at 11 o’clock at night. At that time the kids were still at school, midwinter was creeping close, and Kent was (only) Tier 3. A general feeling of ‘Bah! Humbug!‘ has been sidling up to … More Merry Christmas from an Island
Have Paprika, Will Travel 