Posh Spice started it with her recent advice to her younger self. Then the Daily Record asked a few writers, including me, if they wanted to share their wisdom. Here’s what I wrote: Dear Ellen YOU’RE 18 and you’ve almost finished your first year at university. While you think you’re invincible and that you […]
How do you help someone with Asperger’s choose a university course?
Boy One is now in sixth year and working very hard towards an impressive batch of exams. In fact, his results would probably be enough to get him into further education without too much effort. I’m very proud of him, he’s doing so much better than anyone could have predicted. He’s an Explorer Scout, he’s […]
Things your children don’t need
Back to offering unrequested advice again. This time parenting advice, like it or not. It’s almost Boy Three’s seventh birthday. (Seven! I know, can you believe it?) So it was necessary to organise a celebration. Interesting how there’s an inverse correlation between the number of children’s birthdays you’ve presided over and the level of […]
Advice for would-be family camper
At first glance, camping is wonderful. It’s cheap, it’s simple, it fosters adventure and togetherness and – if photos are to be believed – everyone doing it is grinning like an idiot. And, at some levels, this is true, but only if you do it right. Camping is incredibly complicated, stressful and unpleasant if you […]
Fun and Simple Ways to Pamper Yourself
We all deserve to be pampered occasionally; every now and then we need some time to ourselves so we can recharge our batteries and start to feel like ourselves again. If you’re feeling a bit burned out after the stresses and excesses of Christmas and New Year, then it’s time to start looking for […]