How to bring an edge of thrill and novelty to a perfectly ordinary walk. This one’s simple – just do it in the dark in the company of quite a lot of cub scouts. A wee variation on the usual Wednesday gathering made especially good because of the company. I also learned that it turns […]
How do we talk to children about Trump?
This was written two years ago, but still applies. Only now we can add Brexit into the mix as something scary that makes no sense to anyone, especially children. “Donald Trump scares me,” said Boy Three, tousled from his bed and clutching a toy penguin. The statement was more alarming than the news that something […]
Writing: seeking satisfaction
Previously, I’d imagined Writer’s block was an empty loft. Nothing there but pigeon shit and echoes It’s not though. It is stuffed, rammed, jammed and bloody well bunged up. Like a colon after Christmas. Too much feasting on the fabulous Bingeing. Masticating and swallowing. Until All at once Immobile, There’s belly ache and belching. […]
Lusting for Poldark and other examples of sexism
“We’re man and wife,” he said. It was my husband speaking about something I can’t remember. Certainly nothing important. Another one of those domestic conversations, half attended to and disregarded before long. Earlier than most if it was of the ‘it’s your turn’ variety. “Hang on a minute,” I said. “That’s sexist, isn’t it?” “No,” […]
What did we learn from the snow then?
Well, wasn’t that strange? Half a week of mayhem all because it snowed for a few days. This is especially odd in Scotland where our normal position is to sneer at the ‘Soft Southerners’ who get their knickers in a knot over a bit of bad weather. It didn’t take long to slither down-hill from […]