There I was in the hipster sandwich shop (the one that gives the Panther rage, with its cute double entendre names and instagram-friendly chalk board) waiting for the chap to squirt patterns with dressing on my salad. I had headphones in and I was listening to Anna Burns’ brilliant Milkman, totally content and anticipating a […]
My 12 Questions of Christmas
This year I’m actually fairly jolly. Ho ho ho and all that, but some things are baffling me: Who said we have to get all our shopping done by the first weekend in December? Why is a dressing gown and a tea towel the accepted costume for nativity plays? When are all these parties we […]
Time for a New Car? Here’s How to Make It Yours
If you have been driving the same car for a while and would like to improve your safety and comfort on the road, you may need to bring your car to an auto repair center like the ones on www.bimmerperformancecenter.com/raleigh-nc/ for tune ups or upgrades. Or, it might be time to start looking for a […]
Dispatches from the bunker of having it all
Hello, Anyone still out there? It’s been a bit hectic here at the Palace of Bundance. I’ve gone back to work full time, by which I mean proper, in the office every day, full time. It would be fair to say it’s been interesting. The job? I’m a bid writer – probably the writiest (yes, it […]
How to avoid arguments: Top tips for married couples
Arguments are a natural part of every relationship. When you spend the majority of your time with another person, there will always be little things you disagree on. However, it’s never healthy to have too many arguments – especially when they get very heated and emotional. So, here are my tips to help avoid as […]
Things I’ve learned from my MLitt graduation
This week I was – at least briefly – to be found strutting around in a rather fetching gown and feeling like queen for the day. It was my graduation – MLitt in creative writing at the University of Glasgow. While feeling an appropriate level of chuffed, there was a slight hint of sadness that […]
Cold comfort: Ten ways I know it really is winter
It’s winter again. I love winter. A quick glance at the calendar tells me that it’s mid November and the fact we are at 55 degrees north mean that it’s winter. Autumn is over and spring is a very, very long way off. But if you need other clues, here are my top ten hints […]
Short story: The Third Age
Climacteric NOUN 1 A critical period or event ‘the first major climacteric in 21st-Century poetry’ 2 Medicine The period in life when fertility and sexual are in decline (in women). ‘most women do not experience significant psychological problems at the climacteric’ 3 Botany The ripening period of certain fruits such as apples, involving increased metabolism […]