On the most ordinary of outings Between the seasonal specials and the dog food That’s where it happens Crossing off baked beans and then You look up and There is a baby who doesn’t smile back Why would he? The woman with the liver-spotted knuckles and the sardines in her trolley List, tightly clutched Her […]
Coronavirus: What are we going to talk about today?
“Mum, you’ve said that four times already today.” “I have?” “Yes. You telling people that the quality of the chat is going to get pretty skinny pretty quickly.” That was back at the start of the Time We Couldn’t Believe Was Happening when even our astonishment was worth commenting on. How quickly we’ve got used […]
Self isolation: Day one, things I’ve learned
It’s funny how the significant moments happen without fanfare, rather than to the big hulloo you think they deserve. Working from home this lunchtime when Boy Two came in from school looking clammy and pale. He flopped onto the spare bed and said: “Urgh.” He was shivery and warm, achy, coughing and tired. Oh, shit. […]