They are back. As well as all the usual seasonal unnecessariness, shops are currently flogging festive jumpers. You know the ones, they were almost mythical at first. Not ever seen on real people… in public. Colin Firth wore one but only as a device to show that the wearer was prepared to sacrifice style for […]
Shopping for Number One – Great Gifts to Buy Yourself
As annoying as it might be that Christmas starts earlier every year, once it has begun, there’s no stopping it. Suddenly, we’re all on a frighteningly fast train hurtling towards the big day. No sooner have we started to spot a few Christmas cards in stores than lights and decorations are lining the streets. Suddenly, […]
Chest hair: to baldly go… or not
Sean Connery defies description Tom Jones is not unusual… or at least he wasn’t Selleck looks splendid Starsky’s chest great The late George Michael’s hair raising days were yet to come Should men remove the hair from their chests? Arguably what happens inside a chap’s shirt is entirely his own […]
The real horrors of Halloween
It’s become traditional that I rant about Christmas starting too soon – which it does – but have you noticed how Hallowe’en is doing the same. There’s a house along the road with a pumpkin on the step already – almost a fortnight too early. How ripe is that going to be by the big […]
How Parents Can Save Money In Their Child’s Early Years
Having a baby is an amazing experience, but it’s also one of the most expensive life changes that you’re likely to experience. If it’s your first child, and you have no hand-me-downs to offer, then you’re going to feel the impact on your bank account very quickly. A lot of parents with limit funding end […]
I’m not an expert, but here’s what I know about imposter syndrome
Here’s what happens to me: I have a perfectly lovely chat with someone I like very much. There may be laughter and understanding. Then I hear something. It’s not my friend, it’s another voice. That voice says things like ‘she’s only saying that to be polite’ or ‘she doesn’t really think that it’s just you’re […]
On 20 years of keeping the kids alive…
It’s 20 years – yep, 20 – since this young man arrived in my life. That’s more or less a generation, and probably a reason to celebrate. I am a fantastic mother – I’ve been keeping children alive for two decades. Admittedly, when this chap first fixed me with his fierce gaze, I had such […]
Hotter Rapid – shoes for when you can no longer pretend it’s summer
The theme of this post is speed. Haste, rush, hurry, zoom, or otherwise get about at speed. And, yes, we all know that ‘more haste, less speed’ thing – though I’ve never understood what it actually means. It’s one of those not very meaningful mysteries like where you’re supposed to stand in Pret while they […]