something happened in my world

How do we talk to children about Trump?

January 16, 2019 By Ellen 2 Comments

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 […]

Why I love getting the sleeper

April 25, 2018 By Ellen Leave a Comment

My favourite way to travel to London is by sleeper train. It gives me a sense of how Harry Potter felt when he pushed his trunk and owl-laden trolley into the other world of platform 9 3/4. Instead of being pursued by a vast bearded man on an enchanted motorbike though, I just need […]

Be careful what you wish for – why life’s always going to be unfair

November 30, 2017 By Ellen Leave a Comment

It’s a funny old world. Very much in the sense of peculiar rather than haha, and certainly not LOL. It has struck me lately that all the things one might wish for come with the warning that if you get too much you won’t be happy. In fact, you’re likely to be even less happy […]

Medium-sized missive from the palace of Bundance

November 14, 2017 By Ellen Leave a Comment

The sideboard is still littered with bilious orange sweeties left over from Halloween yet Christmas has started to loom. This year, the first hearing of “it’s Christmaaaaaaas” in a retail environment was recorded the Friday before last. However, it hasn’t triggered it’s usual fit of fury and resistance. I’m calm and, whisper it, even […]

Is anyone else losing their marbles?

October 1, 2017 By Ellen 4 Comments

Sometimes I find that I have dropped not just the ball, but the rest of the equipment and most of my clothes. I don’t want to make a drama about it, but it does seem to have been particularly theatre-related this year. First there was the time that Boy Two and I headed off into […]