The thing about self-help books is the optimism. Not so much that of the author, thought it helps. How To Win People Who Vaguely Remember Your Face or Feel The Unease And Decide Not To Bother wouldn’t sell very well, would they? No. It’s my optimism. My hope that this one will be the one […]
A seasonal cleanse
In the interest of seeking silver linings (a good thing, apparently) I was prepared to repurpose my pre-colonoscopy bowel prep as a post-binge detox this week. And so it was… By Friday morning, my scales told me that I was the equivalent of six jelly babies lighter than I had been at the start of […]
New Year goal setting, other failures and the things they taught me
They were annoying – all those ‘look at me a decade ago’ posts. Yes, yes, don’t you look just the same/even younger/differently marvelous? But honestly, the power of the internet and the potential connections of social media and we’re just wall-to-wall ‘don’t kids grow quite a lot in a decade’ content. (Note to self: delete […]
Please help, I’ve lost my way in the bookshop…
My usual mode of book consumption is audiobooks, whilst driving, doing boring domestic things or walking. Generally whilst ignoring other people… Occasionally I want a real one to turn the pages on (even pretend e-reader pages would do). The other day I started browsing for inspiration. A long time ago, I hazily remember, this used […]
Be careful what you wish for (the back in the office edition)
Yesterday, I was all ‘get me off the sofa, I need some structure in my life’. Today, I went back to the office for a day. For the longest, slowest day in the history of days. How I wished I was back there on the sofa even with the existential angst… Therefore, to avoid another whinge […]
The Boxing Day words
It’s the limbo of it. Christmas Day was full of traditions and purpose. Even the anarchy of consumption and indulgence is ambitious: A systematic approach to emptying fridge and filling belly. Boxing Day, though. That’s a different story. The plan never rolls this far. Shiftless drifting from chocolate box to small screen, pottering, with a […]
The Christmas post
Here we are in the quiet between the unwrapping and the overeating. And as the rest of the world seems to feel compelled to write a festive message, usually, because I’m contrary, I don’t bother. Instead, I’ll tell you a story. Once upon a time ((the day before) yesterday), a dashing prince (the Panther) and […]
Seeing through the brain fog – dropping another clanger
Yesterday I was lucky. I noticed in the nick of time that the theatre tickets were for a matinee not, in fact, for the evening show. We got there, breathless, and earned, as a bonus, an extra evening of family board games. So, yes, lucky. But it does happen to me quite often these days. […]