• From a Spark to a Flame
    From a young age I’ve had a fear of naked flames and fire. At a firework party when I was about six years old, someone gave me a sparkler to hold then left me to write my name against the night sky with it. At first this was great fun but as the sparks creptContinue reading “From a Spark to a Flame”
  • Going With the Flow
    I’m writing his blog post during the sporting peak of summer with both World Cup football and tennis at Wimbledon dominating the media. I know nothing about football and very little about tennis but, because normal TV schedules have been disrupted, I’ve found myself catching a few minutes of pre- or post-match discussion in bothContinue reading “Going With the Flow”
  • Finding Hope in Wilderness: A Reflection for Holy Week
    Following the death recently of a close friend, Gerry, I’ve been reminiscing with my husband about the several holidays we spent with Gerry, his wife and brother, including one on the west coast of Scotland. During that trip we visited an area called the Fairy Lochs which lie surrounded by rocky hills, near the townContinue reading “Finding Hope in Wilderness: A Reflection for Holy Week”
  • The Right Way Out
    Recently I’ve tackled a spring clean of the spare bedroom, which is very badly named as the one thing this very small room doesn’t have is any ‘spare’ room, being much smaller than the one in the image below! Used occasionally, as space for an overnight guest, its main function is storing out of seasonContinue reading “The Right Way Out”
  • Walking into 2026
    I’m writing this post on New Year’s Eve and I’ve been thinking (as I’m sure many of us have) about stepping away from 2025 and walking into 2026. Having fallen recently, walking doesn’t seem like one of my particular skills, unfortunately, and I’m quite nervous about falling again. Over the past few weeks I’ve beenContinue reading “Walking into 2026”
  • The Wonder in the Waiting
    As I write, I’ve just finished two weeks serving as a juror at a local county court. It came at a particularly difficult time of year for me, as I tend towards slight depression during the shortest days of the year. I’m also recovering from a nasty fall and have managed to pick up aContinue reading “The Wonder in the Waiting”
  • Christmas Shopping
    This week, the third week in November, is always special to me as it brings back wonderful memories. Memories of travelling to London with my mum over so many years for our annual Christmas shopping day, always on a Thursday, when many of the large stores were open later than usual. We’d travel to OxfordContinue reading “Christmas Shopping”
  • Changing Clothes for Changing Seasons
    I’m writing this just after the season of International Fashion Weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris which showcased new ‘looks’ for the Spring/Summer season of 2026. While none of the outfits I’ve seen in the press would either suit or attract me, even if I could afford them, I’ve been reflecting on howContinue reading “Changing Clothes for Changing Seasons”
  • Clearing Away the Cobwebs
    We’re just at the start of September, my favourite month, not only for the first sights and scents of autumn but also for the sense of a new beginning, a second ‘new year’ in the calendar. As children and young people start returning to schools, colleges and universities I look to the next few monthsContinue reading “Clearing Away the Cobwebs”
  • Filling Our Bowls
    On most of the surfaces in the room where I write these blog posts, I have china dishes of all shapes and sizes, many inherited from my mother. Two of these in particular always catch my eye. The first is this small round dish with a picture of roses painted inside. I’ve had this dishContinue reading “Filling Our Bowls”

Follow My Blog

Add your email address below to get each new post delivered directly to your inbox. There’s no charge!